Infections can have a devastating effect on the care transition process.

View Jerri's story (video):
Patient Story on Experience with a Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI)
Presented in coordination with the Colorado Foundation for Medical Care

A transition of care is defined as the movement of a patient from one health care practitioner or setting to another as his or her condition and care needs change. A set of actions designed to ensure the coordination and continuity of healthcare as patients transfer between different locations and/or levels of care in the same location is defined as transitional care. When the transitional care process is not coordinated properly, the patient is left in a vulnerable state and at an increased risk of rehospitalization.

The challenges of a fragmented care delivery system require a statewide, concerted effort to achieve the "Triple Aim" of improving population health, quality of individual care, and affordability of care. To integrate care for populations and communities, MetaStar is bringing together hospitals, nursing homes, patient advocacy organizations and other stakeholders with the goal of building capacity for improving care transitions.

Our goal in Wisconsin:

• Prevent 6,000 avoidable hospital readmissions
• Help patients and families spend 24,000 nights of sleep in their own beds*
• Save tens of millions of dollars

Editorial from Greg Simmons: Improving Care Close to Home

Jody Rothe
(800) 362-2320, etx. 8271

* 6,000 readmissions X average length of hospital stay (4 days) = 24,000 nights of sleep in their own beds.