Customer Impact
Boosting Medication Adherence and Cutting Readmissions at Magnolia Regional Health Center
Opportunity
Encountering high rates of prescription abandonment and preventable hospital readmissions, Magnolia Regional Health Center identified an opportunity to more effectively support patients managing their medications.
Results
By deploying SMS-based medication reminders through the seamless integration of MEDITECH Expanse and DrFirst, MRHC reduced prescription abandonment and hospital readmissions and improved outcomes for its rural community.
Key Product
Expanse
19%
reduction in prescription abandonment
6%
reduction in hospital readmissions
90%
engagement rate among 1200 studied patients
“We were pleasantly surprised to see that by nudging patients with SMS text messages about their prescriptions, we saw very good patient engagement with the solution, and we saw an improvement in medication adherence, which means a reduction in prescription abandonment and improved adherence over time.”
Dr. Ben Long
Director of Hospital Medicine
Magnolia Regional Health Center
“We want to be mindful of provider engagement, so with the solution from DrFirst, the SMS text messages, and in combination with MEDITECH Expanse, we found it very easy to make the provider experience non-burdensome.”
Dr. Ben Long
Director of Hospital Medicine
Magnolia Regional Health Center
"One of the very surprising results of our study was on the patient engagement front. We have an elderly population, predominantly Medicare, with an average age of 76 years old, and out of 1,200 patients, we had an over 90% engagement rate with our solution."
Dr. Ben Long
Director of Hospital Medicine
Magnolia Regional Health Center
About Magnolia Regional Health Center
Magnolia Regional Health Center (MRHC) is a DNV-accredited, 200-bed acute care hospital jointly owned by the City of Corinth and Alcorn County, Mississippi. As the county's largest employer, MRHC serves patients across northeast Mississippi and southern Tennessee. Through major modern expansions, the hospital has integrated advanced medical technologies and specialized services and facilities, including the Magnolia Heart & Vascular Center, a state-of-the-art emergency and radiology department, inpatient nephrology, and specialized behavioral health units. Driven by their mission to deliver the best possible care "one patient at a time," MRHC blends clinical passion with cutting-edge medicine to improve the health and well-being of its community.
The Challenge
Magnolia Regional Health Center serves a rural population characterized by advanced age and complex health needs. The hospital observed that many patients, especially those with chronic illnesses like congestive heart failure, experienced difficulties with medication adherence after discharge. Barriers such as limited access to pharmacies, lack of timely reminders, and minimal follow-up contributed to high prescription abandonment and increased risk of readmission, impacting both patient outcomes and healthcare resources. This discovery highlighted the need for a solution that could effectively support patients in managing their medications and maintaining continuity of care outside the hospital setting.
The Solution
Magnolia Regional Health Center leveraged MEDITECH's partnership with DrFirst to deploy a robust and scalable approach for the delivery of SMS-based prescription reminders directly from the Expanse EHR. This integration enabled the delivery of SMS-based prescription reminders directly from the Expanse EHR, streamlining communication and support for patients post-discharge. The implementation focused on patients aged 65 and older, many of whom are Medicare beneficiaries, and ensured seamless adoption into existing care processes. By gently nudging patients about their medications via text, the health center saw strong patient engagement and a significant improvement in medication adherence, ultimately driving down prescription abandonment and supporting better long-term health outcomes.
The Results
By seamlessly integrating MEDITECH Expanse with DrFirst's SMS-based medication reminders, Magnolia Regional Health Center achieved an immediate and significant clinical impact, including a 19% reduction in prescription abandonment and a 6% decrease in hospital readmissions. The initiative also saw a notable engagement rate exceeding 90% among the 1,200 patients studied — a remarkable feat given that this rural, predominantly Medicare-dependent population had an average age of 76. These impressive outcomes demonstrate how targeted digital interventions can successfully overcome demographic barriers to optimize rural healthcare delivery, simplify workflows, and foster the patient adherence necessary for long-term recovery.
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