About us: Frequently asked questions

Q. Who provides service?
A. Dianne Savastano, B.S. in Nursing, MBA, is a 25-year veteran of healthcare services, both in direct patient care, hospital management and in insurance and managed care administration. She received her Nursing degree from Rhode Island College and her MBA from Simmons College in Boston. On the patient care side, she has worked as a clinical director and registered nurse for hospitals and rehabilitation facilities, helping to coordinate care for over 100,000 patients annually. On the insurance side, she has worked as a director of managed care and as Relationship Director for 200,000 plan participants. She understands how to ensure that the client is at the center of the healthcare equation so that your needs and best interests are met.

Q. What issues and questions can I discuss with Healthassist?
A. People use our services in different ways, depending on their needs. Here are some examples:

• When you need to see multiple specialists, Healthassist can help facilitate open and timely communication among all your physicians.

• Healthassist can help you prepare thoroughly for your doctors’ appointments with a written list of issues and questions.

• Once your treatment options are presented by your physician, Healthassist can help you weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each one – so you find the one that’s best for you.

• When you need to oversee the healthcare of aging parents, Healthassist can help you coordinate all the details: doctors, specialists, medicines, insurance coverage, home-based services and more.

• Healthassist can help you understand the scope of your medical insurance coverage and help you expedite insurance claims.

Q. Does Healthassist provide medical advice?
A. No. Healthassist does not recommend treatment and is not a substitute for your relationship with your doctor or insurer. Rather, Healthassist complements those services by providing personal attention, problem-solving, coaching, and facilitation of your interactions with all members of your healthcare team to help you overcome administrative barriers to excellent and timely care.

Q. Can Healthassist help transition my family member from the hospital to a rehabilitation facility?
A. Yes, Healthassist can help take the worry and frustration out of this process in a number of ways. First, we will help you to understand the role of the inpatient case manager/discharge planner assigned to your loved one’s case and how best to work with that individual to identify appropriate options for rehabilitation post-hospitalization. Once a transfer plan is established, Healthassist ensures that all medical information surrounding your family member’s hospital stay is accurately relayed to the new team. Moreover, Dianne Savastano will help you to introduce yourself to this new team of providers, including the physicians, the nurse practitioners, the physical therapists, the occupational therapists, social workers, speech therapists, and any other personnel involved in your loved one’s care. Once your loved one begins receiving care, Healthassist will monitor the team’s goal-setting and the progress made towards achieving those goals. Healthassist will then assist with the transition home and with setting up home-based services, such as physical therapy, home nursing or other services.