In 2016, 27.53 percent of Jonesboro, Ark.-based St. Bernard's Medical Center's discharges were super utilizers, according to a CMS Medicare claims data analysis by Dexur.
Here are three things to know:
1. Nearly half of the total cost of public healthcare is attributable to super utilizers due to their multiple ER visits and hospital admissions. Dexur analysts identified the St. Bernard's percentage of discharges made up by Medicare inpatient super utilizers, their contribution to length of stay, revenue and readmissions.
2. The orthopedic, pulmonology and cardiovascular divisions had the highest volume of Medicare inpatient discharges. The orthopedics department earned the highest payment from super utilizers at $2,155 per day.
3. St. Bernard Medical Center implemented the Total Joint Advantage program, which educates patients on joint replacement surgery, advises them on preoperative and postoperative guidelines and offers rehabilitation services. The high percentage of super utilizers the orthopedics department sees may reflect on the patient population's baseline health.
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