Hospitals in pursuit of excellence

Reducing Readmissions through Prescription Delivery Services

MedEx Bedside Prescription Delivery is the very first bedside medication delivery service for hospital patients. Implemented by Crouse Hospital, patients in the hospital no longer have to visit the pharmacy for their medications because staff members from Patient Portal and Rite Aid deliver this free service to patients upon discharge. Additionally, patients are offered medication review and counseling by the pharmacist both on-site and off-site through a 24/7 pharmacist hotline and complementary follow-up reminders. In less than a year, this program has proven to be extremely effective and helpful as Crouse Hospital recorded a 15 percent decline in readmission rates and on overall satisfaction rate of 98 percent.

This case study is part of the HANYS Triple Aim series highlighting how New York hospitals are improving health, enhancing quality and reducing costs. Hospitals, nursing homes, and home-care agencies across New York state are pursuing the Triple Aim. In spite of fiscal constraints, its members are embracing the challenge of transforming health care and are implementing new and innovative approaches to delivery.