St. Luke's University Health Network Honored for Innovative Care Planning

Pennsylvania hospital system recognized for safe and successful reduction of unnecessary ER visits and readmissions

Mar. 31, 2026 at 2:56pm

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A ghostly, translucent X-ray photograph revealing the internal structure of a hospital bed or medical equipment in glowing, ethereal lines against a dark background, conceptually representing the innovative, technology-driven approach to coordinating care for high-utilizer patients.An award-winning program at St. Luke's University Health Network leverages data-driven care coordination to improve outcomes and reduce costs for high-utilizer patients.Bethlehem Today

St. Luke's University Health Network (SLUHN) was honored with the Richard L. Doyle Award for Innovation and Leadership in Healthcare for its High Utilizer Care Program (HUCP), an initiative developed to improve care coordination for patients who frequently use emergency and inpatient services without improved outcomes. The program integrates individualized care plans into the electronic health record and applies MCG Chronic Care guidelines to align multidisciplinary teams across various care settings, resulting in measurable improvements in care and cost.

Why it matters

The High Utilizer Care Program reflects SLUHN's commitment to providing compassionate, coordinated, and value-driven care. By addressing the needs of high-utilizer patients, the program has successfully reduced unnecessary emergency department visits and inpatient admissions, leading to significant cost savings for the health system.

The details

Since implementing the HUCP, patients enrolled for at least six months have experienced a 39% decrease in emergency department visits, a 50% reduction in inpatient admissions, a nearly 48% reduction in high-end inpatient radiology studies, and a 42% drop in hospital charges, while outpatient engagement increased. This has resulted in over $400 million in cost savings over the past three years.

  • The High Utilizer Care Program was implemented by SLUHN in recent years.
  • Patients enrolled in the program for at least six months have seen the improvements in care and cost savings since the program's implementation.

The players

St. Luke's University Health Network (SLUHN)

A non-profit, regional, fully integrated, nationally recognized health network providing services at 16 campuses and more than 350 sites in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Rebecca Miller

BSN, MHA, CCM, Network Director of Outpatient Care Management at SLUHN.

Jon Shreve

President and CEO of MCG Health, the industry's source of truth for trusted clinical guidance.

MCG Health

Part of the Hearst Health network, MCG is the trusted source of truth for clinical guidance in the healthcare industry, combining evidence-based guidelines and analytics with artificial intelligence to guide efficient and accurate clinical decisions.

Richard L. Doyle

The founding editor of the MCG care guidelines, who began creating clinical guidance in the 1980s to help improve healthcare efficiency and quality.

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What they’re saying

“Our High Utilizer Care Program reflects our commitment to compassionate, coordinated, and value-driven care.”

— Rebecca Miller, BSN, MHA, CCM, Network Director of Outpatient Care Management at SLUHN

“We congratulate St. Luke's University Health Network for their unwavering commitment to improving the lives of patients through thoughtful, coordinated care. Their High Utilizer Care Program exemplifies how patient-centered innovation - grounded in evidence-based guidance - can meaningfully enhance outcomes and ensure patients receive the right care at the right time. This work is a powerful example of what's possible when compassion and clinical excellence come together.”

— Jon Shreve, President and CEO of MCG Health

What’s next

The SLUHN team will be recognized at the MCG Client Forum, June 1–3, 2026, in Aventura, Florida, where they will share insights from the award-winning High Utilizer Care Program initiative.

The takeaway

The High Utilizer Care Program developed by St. Luke's University Health Network demonstrates how a patient-centered, evidence-based approach to care coordination can lead to significant improvements in healthcare quality, patient outcomes, and cost savings. This award-winning initiative serves as a model for other healthcare systems seeking to better support their high-utilizer patient populations.