Herminio Alvarez recently received a package containing essential personal items, including toilet paper, paper towels, face masks, hand sanitizer, soap, and protein drinks and bars. Many of these have been in short supply and hard to come by, especially when you’re stuck at home.

Alvarez is one of many older adults quarantined because of exposure to or a diagnosis of COVID-19. Southwestern Health Resources, partnering with Encompass Health, a leading national post-acute health services company, has sought an innovative approach to enhance care coordination for this population of patients in North Texas.

In addition to monitoring and coordinating care and treatment, care packages have been added to the home health patients’ care plans. These special deliveries also include useful education materials on healthcare and safety during this critical time.

Yolanda Rodriguez, Southwestern Health vice president of care management, said, “As the coronavirus pandemic hopefully abates, we want to continue to think of out-of-the-box ways to augment care and patient experience.

“Our collaboration with Encompass has created a network-to-doorstep pathway, enabling us to reach patients in greatest need right where they are — in the home.” 

Southwestern Health also is working with other healthcare organizations to provide services that embody comprehensive care management:

• Check-in calls to patients
• Calls to help patients with transitions of care
• Important in-home health assessments, which are often vital for patients who are living with chronic illnesses 
• Just-in-time care through innovative EMS and home-based medical solutions

The focus of Southwestern Health’s care management team is to give patients and families greater confidence in their care plans. Rodriguez said, “Now more than ever, patients want and need personalized care with a human touch, especially when we can’t touch.”