MERRILLVILLE -- The Methodist Hospitals' home health care program won state recognition for reducing the rate of patients who need to be sent back to the hospital.

Health Care Excel, the Indiana Medicare Quality Improvement Organization, reported Monday that the Methodist Home Health Services program reduced rehospitalizations below the state and national averages and maintained the below-average rate for more than a year.

The Methodist Hospitals program reduced its rehospitalization rate to 21.56 percent, below the 25.48 percent required for all home health care programs nationwide, said Martha Sutkowski, performance improvement manager for the program.

The goal of the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization is to improve the types of services that prevent illness and disease.

The Methodist Home Health Services program provides home care for patients needing wound care, intravenous medicines, physical and speech therapy and other services, Sutkowski said.

The Methodist program also was recognized for committing to increase the number of homebound patients who are screened for influenza and pneumonia immunizations.

The program's 24 employees include nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists and home health aides who visit patients in their homes.