The ARC Program is an effort by San Francisco Bay Area health care providers to improve care transitions for all patients. Care transitions take place each time a patient moves between one healthcare setting and another. For example, going home from the hospital is a care transition.

The period of time following a hospital stay can be difficult because patients are still healing while having to navigate the complex healthcare system. Too often this leads to patients being readmitted (ending up back in the hospital). The ARC program is committed to improving care transitions so patients do not get readmitted.

ARC efforts have resulted in reducing > 3,300 readmissions and saving > 32 million dollars.

Rehospitalizations may occur because:

• Patients and caregivers may not understand what they need to do to take care of themselves or their loved one after a hospital stay.
• No one at the hospital told them exactly what they should and shouldn't do at home (i.e. taking medicines, making follow up appointments, or arranging for follow-up tests)

Research continues to demonstrate that patients who are more actively involved in their healthcare experience better health outcomes.

The relationship between healthcare professionals and their patients and families is critically important and is a key factor in keeping patients from returning to the hospital.

Have you had an experience with a rehospitalization shortly after leaving the hospital while in the following settings?

Community Skilled Nursing Facility Long Term Care Facility Nursing Home Home  Home Health   Caregiver/Family Support   Visiting Nurse