Walgreens WellTransitions Program Reduce Hospital Readmissions by Nearly 50 Percent

New research shows that hospital patients who participated in Walgreens WellTransitions® program were 46% less likely to experience an unplanned readmission within 30 days of discharge. WellTransitions is a pharmacist-led program that collaborates and coordinates with hospital systems in helping patients transition to home life. Successful methods of transition include educating patients about properly adhering to their prescribed medications.

“WellTransitions addresses the growing need for coordinated health care programs that can help improve patient adherence to medications, while also helping hospitals reduce preventable readmissions,” said Bobby Clark, PhD, MSPharm, MHA, Walgreens senior director of health outcomes and clinical research. “As thousands of hospitals face possible penalties from Medicare for high readmission rates, our findings reinforce the value of pharmacists’ expertise in medication counseling and therapy management, and how working closely to help patients understand medication therapies can be a key driver in reducing unplanned readmissions.”

Walgreens found WellTransitions to be effective for a variety of patient populations. According to an official release, WellTransitions patients under the age of 65 were 44% less likely to be readmitted, and those 65 or older were 48% less likely to be readmitted to a hospital. As well, patients with conditions such as myocardial infarction and heart failure were 55% less likely to be readmitted by participating in the program.

“Walgreens WellTransitions program should serve as a model for how pharmacist-led and integrated coordinated care programs can improve patient health outcomes and provide an innovative solution to an industry concern,” said Clark.

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Source: MarketWatch