MDNews - Miami

A FULL-COURT PRESS AGAINST READMISSIONS A key challenge facing the healthcare industry on both the state and national levels is hospital readmissions. A 2014 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) statistical brief revealed that 30-day hospital readmissions cost the U.S. health system well over $41.3 billion annually. A variety of diagnoses, includ- ing congestive heart failure, septicemia, pneumonia, diabetes, mood disorders, and complications following hospital-based medical or surgical care, contributed to these readmission rates, according to the AHRQ . A 2016 study in JAMA Internal Medicine found that nearly 27 percent of 30-day readmissions are potentially avoidable. Inability to keep medica l appointments and lack of awareness about whom to call for support after discharge or with questions about when to visit the ER were among the preventable reasons patients were readmitted, according to the study. Home healthcare agencies play critical roles in bridg- ing gaps between the hospital and home by monitoring patients' progress and providing services patients need to regain independence. Serenity Home Health Care has instituted a successful, multipronged strategy to confront the challenge of readmissions. Vincent's son, Alexander Carmona, recently joined Serenity Home Health Care in the role of Chief Executive Liaison. A lexander's job is to foster communication among the agency, physicians, hospita ls, and patients and their caregivers. "Alexander is the glue holding everything together in the field," Vincent says. "He has a very big responsibility in terms of the number of hospitals and physicians we serve. They depend on us to make sure patients get the best service." A lexander focuses not only on preventing hospi- talizations but also on enhanced collaboration and continuity of care. "I'm looking forward to bringing my expertise in enhancing the bridges of communication between referra l acquisitions and qua lity patient care," he says. "For the best outcomes of home health recovery Meet the All-star Team Vincent Carmona, CEO/Administrator at Serenity Home Health Care, is a South Florida native. Following his graduation from American Senior High School in Carol City, Florida, he served two years in the U.S. Army. Prior to creating Serenity Home Health Care, Vincent worked in the textile, electronics and sports industries. His first position — sales and marketing manager for Miami- based Elexis Corporation — put him on a career path that would eventually lead him to found Serenity Home Health Care and that solidified his passion for customer service, sales and marketing. He continued to hone his skills in these areas during a five-year stint at J.R. United Industries in Hollywood, Florida. Even as Vincent carved out a promising career in other industries, he knew he eventually wanted to work in health care. "Health care affects all of us in one way or another throughout our lives," he says. "After researching and doing local market studies specifically in the home healthcare arena, I felt confident that I could bring my specific skill set to creating a company that would provide a more intimate and caring version of quality patient care." Alexander Carmona, Chief Executive Liaison at Serenity Home Health Care, holds a bachelor's degree from Southern New Hampshire University, where he attended three years on a basketball scholarship. "During my tenure, I became an excellent student athlete who obtained many attributes and qualities that shaped me into the individual I am today," Alexander says. "I apply my determination, hard-working mentality and communication skills to my current position at Serenity Home Health Care, and I truly believe I can make a positive impact — not just within the company, but with all of the professionals I come across on a daily basis." Getting Patients Back in the Game SERENIT Y HOME HE A LTH CA RE offers a full spectrum of services to patients of all ages. Take a look at what the team provides: + Assistance with activities of daily living + At-home intravenous infusions + Education tailored to patient-specific needs, such as diabetes care and medication management + Nutrition counseling + Physical, occupational and speech therapy + Wound care + Nursing care by licensed practice and registered nurses, including those with additional expertise in oncology and otorhinolaryngology

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