nib Group (nib) and cardiology provider Advara HeartCare have launched an initiative to tackle unplanned readmissions for heart disease patients.
According to nib, around 17% of individuals who receive treatment for heart disease return to the hospital within a month, placing significant strain on the Australian healthcare system. The annual direct costs for managing heart failure through hospitalisation amount to $1.8 billion, with an additional $900 million for community care.
“A significant portion of this cost is associated with preventable readmissions,” said nib health chief medical officer Dr Rob McGrath. “Given as many as 4.5 million Australians are estimated to be living with heart disease, there’s huge potential to better manage patients when they are discharged, to help them stay well and out of hospital.”
nib has teamed up with Advara HeartCare to offer qualifying members access to clinics in Victoria. This service is free of charge for eligible nib members who were recently hospitalised for chronic heart failure.
Additionally, nib’s GapSure Cardiology network provides no-gap coverage for in-patient cardiology procedures for members who qualify.
According to McGrath, the Advara HeartCare program has demonstrated a reduction in the likelihood of readmission for patients with heart failure.
Despite gains like decreased smoking rates and growing awareness of diet and exercise, middle-aged Australians continue to face high risks of heart disease. About 970,000 Australians live with heart failure, affecting men and women differently in terms of risk factors and survival rates.
Advara HeartCare’s Heart Failure Program, led by Dr Leighton Kearney, looks at care involving “cardiologists, nurses, GPs, and other allied health service providers,” Kearney said.
He also stressed the need for proactive measures post-hospitalisation: “Every 18 minutes, an Australian loses their life to heart disease. We need to focus on prevention, but also, what happens after people are discharged from hospital.”
nib also launched a digital fitness initiative this month to promote health and wellness among its members.
