USAging’s Aging and Disability Business Institute Honors Southern Alabama Regional Council on Aging with The John A. Hartford Foundation 2024 Business Innovation Award

For Immediate Release

July 10, 2024

Contact: Bethany Coulter, [email protected] and 202.872.0888

TAMPA, FL—Today, USAging’s Aging and Disability Business Institute presented the Southern Alabama Regional Council on Aging (SARCOA) with The John A. Hartford Foundation 2024 Business Innovation Award for its Community Care Solutions (CCS), a Community Care Hub, which improves care management and coordination through health care integration and contracting with the health care community. Health coaches make hospital post-discharge contact with patients, ensure compliance with transition care management and identify high-risk patients needing chronic care management. Health coaches also screen for barriers hindering provider access and promote patient engagement in recovery. The CCS contract with Southern Clinic, P.C. has impressive outcomes, including a 447 percent increase in annual wellness visits; 32.7 percent decrease in emergency room visits; 25.3 percent lower hospital readmission rate; and a 200 percent increase in revenue for CCS. The CCS is fully sustainable with significant expansion opportunities.

“In today’s private primary care practices, the physicians face numerous obstacles.  One of these major obstacles involves finding the time and resources to properly administer the care management opportunities of the high-risk patients,” said Brian M. Holman, Administrator, Southern Clinic, P.C. “At Southern Clinic, we are thrilled with our pilot project with SARCOA and our ACO that allows us the ability to offer our high-risk patients a more in-depth service that considers both their chronic conditions, as well as other social determinants of health that often prevent these patients from experiencing positive outcomes. This program has allowed us to help our patients achieve better outcomes while also positively impacting the community that we serve. We commend SARCOA for their efforts both with Southern Clinic, as well as within the Wiregrass community. Their efforts are most definitely helping to make the older adult population of the Wiregrass a healthier and happier group.”      

A runner-up for The John A. Hartford Foundation 2024 Business Innovation Award is ArtWorks, which was recognized for its unique suite of creative programming to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) in southern Arizona. Also recognized as a runner-up was the Allegheny County DHS Area Agency on Aging for its Community Care Transition Program (CCTP), which is an evidenced-based model that lowers hospital readmission rates and teaches patients to achieve higher levels of self-management and supportive care after hospital discharge.

“We are thrilled to congratulate the recipients of The John A. Hartford Foundation 2024 Business Innovation Award,” said USAging CEO Sandy Markwood. “Their dedication to innovative solutions in health care has not only set a new benchmark for excellence but also aligns perfectly with our mission to drive impactful change. These pioneers have demonstrated extraordinary creativity and commitment in improving the lives of older adults and people with disabilities, and their achievements inspire us all to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. We are honored to support and celebrate such remarkable contributions to the field.”

“Partnerships between community-based organizations and health systems facilitate more seamless, integrated care that can profoundly improve the health and well-being of older adults and people with disabilities,” said Terry Fulmer, PhD, RN, FAAN, president of The John A. Hartford Foundation. “Our awardees from Alabama, along with Arizona and Pennsylvania, are exemplars of innovation, collaboration and age-friendly approaches that should be emulated in communities across the country. We extend our heartfelt congratulations and thanks to each of these winners.”

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About The John A. Hartford Foundation

The John A. Hartford Foundation, based in New York City, is a private, nonpartisan, national philanthropy dedicated to improving the care of older adults. The leader in the field of aging and health, the Foundation has three priority areas: creating age-friendly health systems, supporting family caregivers, and improving serious illness and end-of-life care. For more information, visit johnahartford.org and follow @johnahartford.

About USAging

USAging is the national association representing and supporting the network of Area Agencies on Aging and advocating for the Title VI Native American Aging Programs. Our members help older adults and people with disabilities throughout the United States live with optimal health, well-being, independence and dignity in their homes and communities. For more information, visit usaging.org and follow @theUSAging on Facebook, X and Instagram.

About the Aging and Disability Business Institute

The mission of the Aging and Disability Business Institute is to build and strengthen partnerships between aging and disability community-based organizations and the health care system. The Business Institute receives funding from The John A. Hartford Foundation, The SCAN Foundation and the Administration for Community Living and is led by USAging.