CentraCare Health recognized for innovation by HealthPartners

St. Cloud, Minn. – CentraCare Health’s Bariatric Center and Heart & Vascular Center were recently awarded an Innovations in Health Care Award from the Partners in Quality Program sponsored by HealthPartners.

The Bariatric Center, now CentraCare Weight Management, created a one-stop-shop that offers a multidisciplinary approach to weight management at a single site. This includes exercise and behavioral health coaches trained in motivational interviewing integrated with a team of providers, surgeons and registered dietitians who offer care to surgical and medical weight loss patients.

In just two years, the program documented 16 percent weight loss and reduction in Body Mass Index (BMI) in the medical program patients (those who followed low-calorie meal plans) and 31 percent weight loss and 30 percent BMI decrease for those patients who had weight loss surgery.

The Heart & Vascular Center was recognized for motivating heart failure patients to take ownership of their own health by using mobile and cloud technologies. Through a custom software design and monitoring, patients received reminders to take their medications and perform self-care activities based on their personal lifestyle schedule, obtained patient education specific to their current situation, and communicated relevant health events to their clinicians in real-time.

This technology resulted in a 47 percent reduction in all cause admissions and a 33 percent reduction in 30-day readmissions for heart failure. CentraCare Health also was recognized for meeting goals in clinical quality outcomes, patient satisfaction and affordability in these categories as measured by Minnesota Community Measurement (MNCM):

• MNCM Optimal Diabetes Care, Primary Care – Silver 
• MNCM Optimal Vascular Care, Primary Care – Gold
• MNCM Optimal Vascular Care, Cardiology, Specialty – Silver

The Innovations in Health Care and Preventive Care Recognition awards are presented as part of HealthPartners Partners in Excellence program. The award winners demonstrate their commitment to the Triple Aim of quality outcomes, excellent patient experience and affordability.