Boosting Revenue & Complex Patient Care with Integrated Infectious Disease Experts

Access TeleCare Case Study

Access TeleCare helped a 300-bed hospital care for patients with complex infectious diseases and support its hospitalists, boosting revenue 25 percent and improving antibiotic utilization rates.

Addressing Complex Patient Care Needs Through Telemedicine

The Challenge

A 300-bed hospital in Louisiana was experiencing high hospitalist turnover and a shortage of infectious disease subspecialists, inhibiting its ability to care for patients with complex needs.

The Solution

The hospital launched an Infectious Disease telemedicine program with Access TeleCare in 2021 to provide fully virtual coverage for the hospital’s infectious disease services. In the first year of the program, all-payer revenue increased 25 percent, and the hospital has sustained revenue increases of more than 33 percent from 2021-2023 compared to prior years.

Access TeleCare’s teleInfectious Disease specialists are fully integrated with the on-site hospitalists, supporting care for patients with complex infectious diseases. Because the teleInfectious Disease specialists are involved in patient care from the moment patients enter the hospital, length of stay decreased 10 percent. Outbound transfers also decreased, and inbound transfers from other hospitals increased.

Antibiotic utilization rates improved as well. In the program’s first year, antimicrobial therapy days per 1,000 patients decreased 17 percent, and vancomycin therapy days per 1,000 patients were reduced by 42 percent.

“Thanks to our fully integrated telemedicine programs, our specialists can begin evaluating patients and consulting with on-site physicians and pharmacists early in the patient’s hospitalization. Patients receive high quality care and faster treatment, and on-site teams enjoy a deep level of support and guidance from collaborative, patient-focused specialists.”

– Jade Le, M.D. | Access TeleCare Chief of Infectious Disease

Through full integration with on-site teams and an unrivaled level of infectious disease expertise, Access TeleCare quickly transformed the hospital into a major care hub capable of meeting the region’s complex care needs.

Learn more about our programs and how fully virtual specialty care can transform your hospital.

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Keys to Program Success

Full integration with on-site teams is a major factor in the program’s success. Access TeleCare’s infectious disease experts consult with and manage care alongside on-site hospitalists as soon as patients are admitted, guiding treatment decisions and minimizing antibiotic use as appropriate.

Results

25% Infectious Disease Revenue Increase

In the first year of the program, all-payer revenue increased 25 percent.

10% Reduction in Length of Stay

With teleInfectious Disease specialists involved in patient care from the moment patients enter the hospital, length of stay decreased 10 percent.

Improved Antibiotic Utilization Rates

In the program’s first year, antimicrobial therapy days per 1,000 patients decreased 17 percent, and vancomycin therapy days per 1,000 patients were reduced by 42 percent.