Case Study: University Health Care System reduces readmissions and automates telemonitoring with Optum RelayCare

Automating a Telemonitoring Program for Chronic Disease Patients

University Health Care System, a 581‑bed community hospital with two skilled nursing facilities in Augusta, Ga., was facing high post‑discharge risk—particularly for congestive heart failure—and struggled with manual telemonitoring workflows, fragmented documentation, and difficulty tracking patient communications. To address these challenges, the system implemented Optum’s RelayCare telemonitoring and care‑management modules for CHF, asthma, COPD and the general clinic to standardize protocols, patient education and post‑discharge follow‑up.

Optum’s RelayCare was deployed in the hospital call center (15 RNs), automating surveys, clinical alerts and documentation so nurses could proactively contact high‑risk patients within 24–48 hours of discharge, adjust medications per physician‑approved protocols, and centralize patient records. The solution streamlined telemonitoring and documentation, improved after‑hours triage, supported disease‑management programs serving roughly 250 active heart‑failure and 400+ asthma/COPD patients, and produced community disease‑trend data the state health department used to predict flu season—making telemonitoring faster, easier, and more trackable for staff.

University Health Care System

Julie Bell

Manager