NEW YORK, November 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — AbleTo, Inc., the leading provider of innovative behavioral telehealth solutions  proven to improve patient outcomes and lower healthcare costs, added a new tool for its customers and providers to better connect patients to high-quality, evidence-based treatment and improve overall care. Nationwide, case managers from Aetna and other health plans are using the AbleTo Care Coordination Platform to streamline referrals and improve coordination of care.

The AbleTo Care Coordination Platform is fully integrated into Aetna’s EHR resulting in:

1. Referrals: Easy referrals to improve access to care.
2. Speeding follow-up: Improved visualization of the patient’s treatment progress and care coordination activities.
3. Better outcomes: Health plans receive clinical case summaries which allow for better understanding of patient’s needs.

“Reducing costs and improving outcomes for patients with comorbid medical and behavioral health conditions means that we must find the most effective and efficient ways to ease the sharing of information between AbleTo Therapists and coaches, referring nurses, and PCPs and medical specialists,” said Jason Goodhand, VP of Product at AbleTo.

Bridging the Behavioral and Medical Care Gap

AbleTo Chief Clinical Officer Aimee Peters believes that care is still too siloed between behavioral and medical health. “Of patients with chronic diseases, like cardiac illness and diabetes, one in four may also suffer from mild to moderate depression, anxiety, and stress. AbleTo is focused on this intersection and has demonstrated proven results.” AbleTo’s Aetna Cardiac Program graduates saw 31% fewer hospital admissions, and a reduction in depression (54%), anxiety (45%), and stress (43%). source

“There is an important need to close the care coordination gap in order to improve outcomes for patients like these. Case managers need to know their patient’s progress, results, and important support that is needed to help them maintain the gains that they made.”

Research shows that care coordination is central to patient engagement. According to research published in Health Affairs, “communicating well with patients who have serious illnesses or chronic conditions and helping patients manage their care at home can be instrumental in avoiding complications and improving outcomes.”