Hartford Foundation Award

The Aging and Disability Business Institute at USAging recently presented the SARCOA with The John A. Hartford Foundation 2024 Business Innovation Award for its Community Care Solutions’ (CCS) population management contract with Southern Clinic P.C. providing chronic care and transition care management for patients attributed to the Statera Accountable Care Organization. The award was presented at the USAging’s 49th Annual Conference and Tradeshow in Tampa, FL. On hand to receive the award were David Crocker, SARCOA Director of Community Care, and Kimberly Falkner, SARCOA Executive Director.

The award-winning population management contract includes Health Coaches as critical players in their success in chronic care and transition care management. Health Coaches make hospital post-discharge contact with patients, ensure compliance with transition care management and identify high-risk patients needing chronic care management. They have direct access and program integration into Southern Clinic’s Electronic Health Record system. Health Coaches also screen for barriers hindering provider access and promote patient engagement in recovery. The Community Care Solutions’ contract with Southern Clinic P.C. has impressive outcomes, including a 447-percent increase in Medicare Annual Wellness Visits, a 32.7-percent decrease in emergency room visits, a 25.3-percent lower hospital readmission rate and a 200-percent increase in revenue for CCS. The CCS, a Community Care Hub, is fully sustainable with significant expansion opportunities.

“In today’s private primary care practices, the physicians face numerous obstacles.  One of these major obstacles involves finding the time and resources to properly administer the care management opportunities of the high-risk patients,” said Brian M. Holman, Administrator, Southern Clinic, P.C. “At Southern Clinic, we are thrilled with our pilot project with SARCOA and our ACO that allows us the ability to offer our high-risk patients a more in-depth service that considers both their chronic conditions, as well as other social determinants of health that often prevent these patients from experiencing positive outcomes. This program has allowed us to help our patients achieve better outcomes while also positively impacting the community that we serve. We commend SARCOA for their efforts both with Southern Clinic, as well as within the Wiregrass community. Their efforts are most definitely helping to make the older adult population of the Wiregrass community a healthier and happier group.”

“We are thrilled to congratulate the recipients of The John A. Hartford Foundation 2024 Business Innovation Award,” said USAging CEO Sandy Markwood. “Their dedication to innovative solutions in health care has not only set a benchmark for excellence but also aligns perfectly with our mission to drive impactful change. These pioneers have demonstrated extraordinary creativity and commitment to improving the lives of older adults and people with disabilities, and their achievements inspire us all to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. We are honored to support and celebrate such remarkable contributions to the field.”