George A. Ackermann Memorial Fund Grants $175,000 to Support the Chronic Disease Care Transitions program

For the third straight year, Swedish Covenant Hospital has received a grant from the George A. Ackermann Memorial Fund to support the hospital’s Chronic Disease Care Transitions program. The goal of this program is to help patient’s understand and manage diseases such as congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and renal failure in order to reduce the risk of hospital readmission.The program utilizes SCH physicians, nurses and wellness coaches in follow-up appointments soon after hospital discharge, remote telehealth monitoring, home visits and follow-up telephone calls with patients. In the program’s first year, the generous support of the George A. Ackermann Memorial Fund directly impacted the care of over 300 patients, primarily those of an underserved population. Now, in its third year, the program is continuing to prove highly effective at improving the health of patients and reducing the hospital’s 30-day readmission rate.