Case Study: Shawnee Mission Medical Center achieves a 46% reduction in ED visits and cuts Medicare readmissions with Cerner Acute Case Management

Reducing ED visits and Medicare readmissions at Shawnee Mission Medical Center

Shawnee Mission Medical Center, an 188‑bed acute care facility, faced rising costs from unplanned ICU transfers, high ED utilization and Medicare readmission penalties. The hospital aimed to keep costly, repeat patients out of the hospital and reduce transfer‑related expenses while improving post‑discharge outcomes.

SMMC implemented an early warning system plus Cerner Acute Case Management and a transition coach program staffed by a social worker and a nurse to document education, follow up, and coordinate with skilled nursing facilities and primary care. As a result ED visits fell 46%, unplanned ICU admissions dropped 20.4% in two years, heart‑failure readmissions declined (10.4% overall) with no HF penalty in 2014, and pneumonia and AMI readmissions fell 5.2% and 8.9%, leaving overall readmissions 6–10% below the national average.

Shawnee Mission Medical Center

Peggy Pace

Shawnee Mission Medical Center