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October 9, 2024

Nova's Podcast Dives into Post-Hospital Care

Nurses play a critical role in preventing readmissions

Whether it’s you or a loved one leaving the hospital, discharge is often a welcome relief—but it can also bring new worries. Absorbing all the instructions and notes you receive before heading home can be overwhelming. While most people know they can call their doctor for follow-up questions, many aren’t aware that their insurance company might also reach out—specifically through a post-discharge call from a nurse. But why?

Nova Healthcare Administrators, Inc.’s newest episode of its educational podcast, “Under the Coverage” unravels the often-overlooked role of nurses from insurers in preventing hospital readmissions and supporting a smoother transition from hospital to home.

Inpatient Hospitalization: Why Nurses Matter After You Go Home

In “Post-Hospital Care: Staying Healthy & Staying Home,” Lorene Barulich and Stefanie Watt from Nova’s medical management department shine a light on how nurses serve as key players in reducing costly readmissions.

Key topics include:

  • The common challenges patients face when transitioning from hospital to home.
  • Why that post-discharge call from a nurse is more important than you think.
  • How nurses help ensure patients have a smooth recovery, keeping them out of the hospital.

“It’s not just, oh, we’re trying to save money because we’re the insurance and that’s where it’s at,” said Barulich. “We don’t want you to be uncomfortable. We don’t want you to be back in the hospital where 99 percent of the people don’t want to be. You want to be at home with your animals and your family and your comfortable bed. You don’t want to be in the hospital, so it’s a wonderful part of nursing, quite honestly.”

The discussion brings clarity to the confusing post-hospital process, showing how a simple follow-up call can make a world of difference in patient care and recovery. Tune in for a quick, eye-opening episode filled with practical advice and essential health care insights.

How to Listen

New episodes – each 15 minutes or less! – are added regularly and are available on SoundCloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Amazon Music and TuneIn. You can also listen via digital assistants like Alexa, Google and Cortana. Just ask Alexa to, “play the Under the Coverage podcast on Apple Podcasts” (or wherever you get your podcasts).

Have an idea for a future episode or a question you’d like answered? Find Under the Coverage on X @UndrTheCoverage or email podcast@novahealthcare.com.