Study Proves Dramatic Reduction in Hospitalizations & $300 Million Savings for MDVIP’s Personalized Healthcare Model

BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Patients under the care of MDVIP-affiliated primary care physicians experience a dramatic decrease in hospitalizations versus comparable non-MDVIP patients, according to a study profiled in an article published in the peer-reviewed The American Journal of Managed Care (December 2012). This first-ever, published study done on hospital utilization in the MDVIP personalized healthcare model found a 79% reduction in hospital admissions for Medicare patients, and a 72% decrease for those with commercial insurance between the ages of 35-64 in MDVIP-affiliated practices. As a result, MDVIP, the premier national network of primary care physicians, delivered to the healthcare system a one-year savings in excess of $300 million.

“Most avoidable hospital admissions are attributable to chronic conditions. Illnesses including diabetes and chronic cardiac diseases can potentially be prevented with timely care by a primary care physician, but they are becoming more and more typical of visits to a hospital”

The study also found decreased MDVIP hospital readmission rates for Medicare members when compared to the 2009 readmission rates for non-MDVIP Medicare patients, for such conditions as acute MI (heart attack), CHF (congestive heart failure) and pneumonia. MDVIP readmission rates are below 2% for these conditions compared to the national averages that range from a low of 16% to a high of 24%.

“The MDVIP model of personalized, preventive care with smaller practices allows the physician to take a more proactive rather than a reactive approach,” said Dr. Andrea Klemes, Medical Director of MDVIP. “MDVIP-affiliated physicians have the time to focus on acute, chronic and preventive health issues, and this increased physician contact time results in improved outcomes for patients and ultimately lowers healthcare costs.”

The data also established that:

• Hospitalizations since 2006 have decreased as membership in MDVIP-affiliated practices has increased.
• MDVIP had an 83% lower admission rate for elective admissions in 2010 than did patients in traditional primary care practices.
• MDVIP had 49% fewer hospitalizations for avoidable admissions (including heart failure, diabetes and pneumonia, for example), than did traditional primary care practices.
• MDVIP admissions for unavoidable hospitalizations (including angina and stroke, for example) were lower by 63% when compared to the non-MDVIP population.
• MDVIP-affiliated practices had readmission rates for Medicare patients below 2% (MI at 0.5%, CHF at 0.8% and pneumonia at 1.4%).
• In 2010 alone, MDVIP saved $2,551 per patient due to decreased hospitalizations.

MDVIP-affiliated doctors perform a comprehensive annual wellness examination and advanced screenings on every patient to customize a plan of care that is closely monitored throughout the year. Through the use of validated health risk assessments, MDVIP-affiliated physicians have a more thorough knowledge of the patient’s lifestyle, emotional well-being and medical history, allowing them to diagnose, treat and actually prevent disease in the doctor’s office rather than in a hospital. In addition, MDVIP patients can reach their doctors 24/7, have little or no waiting time in the office and can get same-day or next-day appointments leading to higher levels of satisfaction in convenience.

“Most avoidable hospital admissions are attributable to chronic conditions. Illnesses including diabetes and chronic cardiac diseases can potentially be prevented with timely care by a primary care physician, but they are becoming more and more typical of visits to a hospital,” Dr. Klemes continued. “Admissions for these types of diseases add to the soaring healthcare costs, which are some of the most expensive conditions for both Medicare and private insurance. These conditions can be averted with appropriate preventive screening, better care, improved availability to effective treatment and coaching to implement healthy behaviors. We are extremely proud of the results of this study.”

About Dr. Andrea Klemes

Dr. Andrea Klemes is the Medical Director of MDVIP. She also serves as the executive and organizational leader of MDVIP’s Medical Advisory Board that supports quality and innovation in the delivery of the healthcare model drawing expertise from the affiliated physicians. Dr. Klemes is board certified in internal medicine and endocrinology and received her medical degree from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed an internal medicine residency at Cabrini Medical Center in Manhattan, New York, and an endocrine and metabolism fellowship at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. Prior to joining MDVIP, Dr. Klemes worked at Procter & Gamble in the areas of personal healthcare, women’s health and digestive wellness and served as North American Medical Director for bone health. She spent 10 years in private practice specializing in endocrinology and metabolism in Tallahassee, Florida.

About MDVIP, Inc.

MDVIP, Inc. is the national leader in affordable personalized healthcare. With prevention at the center of its program, MDVIP has proven that its carefully chosen affiliated physicians provide exceptional care and achieve exceptional outcomes. These results include lower hospitalization rates which yield significant cost savings to patients, employers and the healthcare system. MDVIP-affiliated physicians limit their practices to no more than 600 patients in order to provide a customized wellness and preventive care program. There are currently over 590 MDVIP-affiliated physicians serving over 200,000 patients throughout the country. MDVIP, Inc. was founded in 2000 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Procter & Gamble, http://www.pg.com (NYSE: PG), with headquarters in Boca Raton, Florida. For more information, visit www.MDVIP.com or www.facebook.com/MDVIP.

Highlights of the MDVIP Hospitalization Study include:

• By 2010, MDVIP hospital discharges for the Medicare population were 79% lower than the non-member Medicare population, and this difference was shown to be trending up since 2006 (70% to 79%). A similar trend was seen in the non-Medicare population (49% to 72%).
• Elective, non-elective, emergent, urgent, avoidable and unavoidable admissions were all lower among the MDVIP members compared to non-members for the years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, demonstrating consistent reductions.
• For elective hospital admissions, patients in MDVIP-affiliated practices had 83% fewer hospitalizations in 2010 than did patients in traditional primary care practices. For elective admissions, the patient’s condition permits adequate time to schedule the hospitalization.
• For non-elective hospital admissions, patients in MDVIP-affiliated practices had 56% fewer hospitalizations than did patients in traditional primary care practices. For non-elective admissions, the patient’s condition does not permit adequate time to schedule the hospitalization (urgent or emergent).
• Urgent admissions were 42% lower for the MDVIP population than for the non-MDVIP population.
• For emergent admissions, MDVIP was 58% less than the non-MDVIP cohort.
• Readmission rates for Medicare patients in MDVIP-affiliated practices were 97%, 95% and 91% less frequent than non-MDVIP Medicare patients for acute MI (heart attack), CHF (heart failure) and pneumonia, respectively.

Researchers contributing to the study include: Andrea Klemes, DO, FACE; Ralph E. Seligmann, MD; Lawrence Allen, MD; Michael A. Kubica, MBA, MS; Kimberly Warth, BS, MPA; and Bernard Kaminetsky, MD, FACP. The study was done by Applied Quantitative Sciences, Inc.

The abstract and web exclusive, "Personalized Preventive Care Leads to Significant Reductions in Hospital Utilization," appears in the December 2012 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care.

MDVIP Medical Director Dr. Andrea Klemes is available for interviews.