LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Amedisys (NASDAQ: AMED), a leading health care at home company, and Contessa, an Amedisys company and the leading comprehensive care at home provider, announced a partnership bringing a new care at home option to Central Arkansas. The joint venture offers patients a full spectrum of medical care in the comfort and convenience of their own homes.

“UAMS is leading the ambitious goal of making Arkansas the healthiest state in the region, and this strategic initiative supercharges that vision,” said Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, UAMS chancellor and CEO of UAMS Health. “We are thrilled to partner with Contessa and Amedisys to bring this first-of-its-kind model to the region and the first Comprehensive Care at Home program to the state. We look forward to giving our patients an innovative option that delivers on our commitment of community-focused, patient-centered care.”

UAMS Health Comprehensive Care at Home combines all the essential elements of primary, hospital or rehabilitation level care with the comfort of patients’ homes. The proven model improves patient outcomes and satisfaction, achieves cost savings and defines a new standard for care delivery. The service expands access across the continuum of care, increases critical inpatient capacity and reduces overall cost of care.

The model includes Recovery Care at Home and Rehabilitation Care at Home, which offer safe and effective alternatives to a traditional hospital stay and a traditional skilled nursing facility, respectively. In both services, patients are sent home with easy-to-use remote patient monitoring devices and immediately begin receiving both in-person and virtual visits from their care team daily. These models allow patients to recover in the familiarity of their own home, while receiving expert medical care from trusted UAMS providers.

Palliative Care at Home provides additional support to seriously ill patients, their families and their caregivers. Patients are provided with complete coordinated care through in-home or virtual visits from UAMS care team members; 24-hour services such as physical, emotional and spiritual support; in-depth discussions about their conditions and treatment plans, as well as social services.

As part of the joint venture, home health care will be provided by Amedisys Home Health in Searcy and Little Rock. Home health services include skilled nursing care; physical, occupational and speech therapy; medical social work; and home health aides to assist with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing and eating.

“Together with Contessa, we have the unique ability to build the full continuum of care at home services. A prestigious institution like UAMS is the perfect partner to put this innovative model into practice. We are excited to provide a comprehensive program that will improve the outcomes and experience for our patients in Central Arkansas,” said Chris Gerard, Amedisys president and chief executive officer.

Several emerging trends strengthen the case for a broadening the home-based care continuum, including patient and physician preference. A recent Capital Caring Health survey found that 90 percent of Americans over the age of 50 want to remain in their homes and age in place. CarePort reports that home health referrals have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, but skilled nursing referrals continue to decline.

“The pandemic shifted patient preference for care delivery, increasing the demand for high-acuity care in the home,” said Travis Messina, Contessa’s chief executive officer. “Contessa’s Comprehensive Care at Home model builds upon that momentum while providing an integrated care at home platform for patients, providers and payers. We are honored to partner with UAMS to bring this level of care to patients in Little Rock.”

UAMS Health Comprehensive Care at Home will begin accepting home health patients later this year or by early 2023, with other services rolling out in early 2023.