11.19.19
A first-of-its-kind CVS
Health initiative to combat hospital-acquired pneumonia through better oral
health is improving outcomes and receiving rave reviews from patients. Launched
earlier this year, the Rush to Brush program has supported more than 10,000
Aetna members undergoing surgery with kits containing high-quality oral care
products, education and a personalized ‘get well soon’ card.
“The program has allowed
us to offer members a simple health care solution right at their fingertips,”
said Daniel Knecht, M.D., Vice President of Health Strategy and Innovation for
CVS Health. “It also shows the power of bringing key industry stakeholders
together to solve a problem unearthed by member data.”
Leveraging the
information contained within surgery pre-certifications, the kits arrive
in-home to members approximately one week before their scheduled hospital
admission. The effort is designed to help reduce the incidence of pneumonia,
the number one hospital-acquired infection and one of the most life-threatening
illnesses patients can contract.
Oral care is critically
important in the post-operative setting because the mouth is filled with
bacteria. “We want to shift the paradigm around oral health in hospitals. It’s
actually more important to take care of your teeth and mouth when you go in for
surgery, not less,” said Mary Lee Conicella, DMD, Aetna’s Chief Dental Officer.
One study found disease-causing bacteria—especially those linked to
pneumonia—present in 90 percent of patients within 72 hours of being admitted
to the hospital. Those bacteria don’t just stay in the mouth, however; they are
often inadvertently inhaled into the lungs.1,2,3,4
Brushing one’s teeth
greatly reduces the population of bacteria in the mouth, according to
nurse-researcher Dian Baker, Ph.D., professor at California State University,
Sacramento. “When patients brush their teeth, they’re basically taking their
bacterial count from hundreds of millions down to just a few, and this greatly
reduces their risk of pneumonia.”
Dr. Baker’s research
inspired the Rush to Brush program, which is paying dividends in terms of
clinical results, member satisfaction and reduced health care costs. Early
results demonstrate decreases in the incidence of pneumonia among members who
received the Rush to Brush kit when compared to those who did not.5 Additionally, estimates project that the program
will yield substantial savings in avoidable medical costs across Aetna’s
commercial and Medicare business.
sh to Brush program.
And members love it.
Seventy percent took the kit with them to the hospital, and 95 percent have
expressed positive feelings toward the program and Aetna. Members who received
the kit have been effusive, saying the initiative “shows that Aetna is caring
and considerate” and that “the fact that Aetna took a vested interested in my
recovery meant so much.” One member noted that the kit “took the guesswork out.
All items were needed, all items were used – this was better than flowers!”
In addition to
collaborating with Dr. Baker, Aetna worked with plan sponsor Johnson &
Johnson as well as Colgate-Palmolive and IntelliDent to outfit the kits with
Colgate Total toothpaste, a soft-bristled toothbrush, Listerine Zero mouthwash,
disposable toothbrush shields and tips on good oral health.
The program illustrates
CVS Health’s and Aetna’s unique ability to use clinical and member data
insights to unlock members’ health care needs, allowing us to bring together
the resources to meet our members on their road to recovery and better health.
For
more information about CVS Health’s efforts to improve care across the nation,
visit our News & Insights page and the CVS Health Impact Dashboard. To stay informed
about the latest updates and innovations from CVS Health, register
for content alerts and our Leaders in Care newsletter.
Data based on early
observations of pneumonia claims within 90 days of procedure, not yet
statistically significant.
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