The
Medicaid Accelerated eXchange, program, also known as the “MAX Project” is a brand new initiative designed to assist Jamaica Hospital Medical Center to identify and better manage the care of those Medicaid and dual eligible patients who have been admitted to our hospital four or more times in the past twelve months.
The main goal of this program is to reduce or avoid unnecessary admissions for these patients by enhancing the level of care provided in an outpatient setting.
Most patients identified by the MAX Project are polydiagnostic-meaning they are being managed for many different health concerns and require a carefully coordinated interdisciplinary approach. These patients are also more likely to be exposed to non-medical factors such as financial or social challenges that can affect their quality of health. The project will provide these individuals with valuable resources and trained specialists who can assist them to overcome clinical and nonclinical obstacles they may encounter.
At the inception of the MAX Project, 455 patients were identified as having been admitted four or more times within a twelve month time period. However, since the program began this number has been reduced to 192 people.
In order to ensure that these patients’ health care needs are being properly met, a daily conference call between the heads of each clinical department takes place to discuss all options of care. There are two components to each patient’s overall evaluation. One is a root cause analysis which evaluates why this patient requires extra attention, did they receive enough attention in the past, and which providers shall manage their health. The other main component is to develop a care plan that will allow this patient to be cared for comprehensively in an outpatient capacity.
Jamaica Hospital’s leadership anticipates that the MAX Project will successfully lower the number of admissions required in the past. It will also help the hospital to meet DSRIP Initiative goals and operate more cost effectively in the long term.