
Better Care Leads to Improved Health Status of Patients
Tenderheart is committed to a value-based model of care — a patient-centric, quality-based system measured by health outcomes and patient satisfaction. In contrast, a fee-for-service (FFS) model features a payment structure where providers are reimbursed for each service or product they provide, which leads to a focus on the number of treatments or products issued instead of the health or wellness of the patient.
At TenderHeart, our focus is on the patient and their health and wellness. TenderHeart works with states and Managed Care Organizations (MCO’s) to provide coverage for their population’s incontinence needs. This provides the state and MCOs with a predictable budget and reduced administrative costs.
This is the foundation for TenderHeart’s approach. By focusing on proper incontinence management, patients will have a higher level of confidence, enjoy better health outcomes, and have the ability to lead more active and social lives. Proper management also prevents complications that come from improper incontinence management such as UTIs or hospital admissions.
Improved Medical Outcomes
It’s estimated that at least 25 million Americans live with incontinence every day. This condition often has a negative effect on their physical, psychological and social well-being. In older adults, it can reduce the ability to socialize or live independent lives, cause feelings of embarrassment and distress, and severely impair daily functioning.
Incontinence, challenging enough on its own, also leads to additional health issues:
- Greater risk from falls — one study showed a 26% increase in falls in patients with incontinence
- Urinary Tract Infections can lead to urinary incontinence, and the reverse is true as well; UTIs are the second largest preventable admitting diagnosis.
- Pressure Ulcers are another potential issue for those with urinary incontinence with incontinence sufferers 16% more likely to develop ulcers in response to improperly fitting incontinence treatment products or leakage.
A recent study, considering hospital admissions before and after TenderHeart patient engagement, found that our value-based program led to a 63% reduction in admissions for pressure ulcers, a 44% drop in admissions for UTIs, and an 11% reduction in admissions related to falls.
reduction in admissions for pressure ulcers
drop in admissions for UTIs
reduction in admissions related to falls
Reduced MCO Incontinence Costs
As one of the largest incontinence care providers nationally, our program is able to provide cost effective and quality products from many manufacturers. This leads to our partners finding savings through our value-based incontinence provider agreement.
We work with patients to find the right products for the right use that fit their individual needs which result in lower utilization. TenderHeart’s approach means better care for patients with fewer ‘hidden’ costs that can show up when patients are hospitalized for health issues related to incontinence.
World-Class Customer Loyalty and Patient Satisfaction
Net Promoter Score is a metric used to measure the loyalty of customers to a company and a key figure in customer experience programs. Based on a single-question survey and reported with a number in the range of -100 to +100, NPS is the gold standard in determining how a company is regarded with those it serves. The higher the score, the better.

*survey was completed with a confidence interval of 95%
TenderHeart engaged the National Business Research Institute (NBRI) to perform an NPS survey. This ongoing NPS survey given to Tenderheart by its customers which includes all servicing MCOs was 85.* This Best-in-Class score places Tenderheart higher than many well known and customer beloved brands.
It shows that TenderHeart’s commitment to quality, value, and patient-centered care connects with those we serve. The consistently positive engagement and satisfaction with our service demonstrates that we have EARNED the trust of the patients we serve and that the product quality we offer supports successful management of their incontinence.
The patient loyalty also shows in retention. For example, of the patients served under TenderHeart’s value-based program per month, less than 0.001% on average stop service due to product or service-related issues.