Growth of Fee-for-Service Medicare Home-Based Medical Care Within Private Residences and Domiciliary Care Settings in the U.S., 2012–2019

ObjectivesHome-based medical care (HBMC) delivers physician or advanced practice provider–led medical services for patients in private residences and domiciliary settings (eg, assisted living facilities, group/boarding homes). We aimed to examine the time trends in HBMC utilization by care settings.DesignAnalyses of HBMC utilization at the national and state levels during the years 2012–2019.Setting and ParticipantsWith Medicare public use files, we calculated the state-level utilization rate of HBMC among fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare beneficiaries, measured by visits per 1000 FFS enrollees, in private residences and domiciliary settings, both separately and combined.MethodsWe assessed the trend of HBMC utilization over time via linear mixed models with random intercept for state, adjusting for the following state-level markers of HBMC supply and demand: number of HBMC providers, state ranking of total assisted living and residential care capacity, and the proportion of FFS beneficiaries with dementia, dual eligibility for Medicaid, receiving home health services, and Medicare Advantage.ResultsTotal HBMC visits in the United States increased from 3,911,778 in 2012 to 5,524,939 in 2019. The median (interquartile range) state-level HBMC utilization rate per 1000 FFS population was 67.6 (34.1–151.3) visits overall, 17.3 (7.9–41.9) visits in private residences, and 47.7 (23.1–86.6) visits in domiciliary settings. The annual percentage increase of utilization rates was significant for all care settings in crude models (3%–8%), and remained significant for overall visits and visits in domiciliary settings (2%–4%), but not in private residences.Conclusions and ImplicationsThe national-level growth in HBMC from 2012–2019 was largely driven by a growth of HBMC occurring in domiciliary settings. To meet the needs of a growing aging population, future studies should focus efforts on policy and payment issues to address inequities in access to HBMC services for homebound older adults, and examine drivers of HBMC growth at regional and local levels.     

A Quality of Care Framework for Home-Based Medical Care

More than 6 million adults in the United States are homebound or semi-homebound and would benefit from home-based medical care (HBMC). There is currently no nationally recognized quality of care framework for home-based medical care. We sought to capture diverse stakeholder perspectives on the essential aspects of quality HBMC and create a quality of care framework for homebound adults. A qualitative analysis of semistructured interviews from purposive sampling of key HBMC stakeholders was performed. Leaders from 12 exemplar HBMC practices (clinicians and administrators), advocacy groups (American Association of Retired Persons, National Partnership for Women and Families, Kaiser Family Foundation), and representatives from 3 key professional medical societies associated with HBMC participated in phone interviews. Semistructured interviews were based on domains of quality developed by the National Quality Forum (NQF) for individuals with multiple chronic conditions. We identified 3 categories of quality HBMC: provider and practice activities; provider characteristics; and outcomes for patients, caregivers, and providers. Within these 3 categories, we identified 10 domains and 49 standards for quality HBMC. These included 3 new domains (comprehensive assessment, patient/caregiver education, and provider competency) as well as specification and adaptation of the NQF Framework for Multiple Chronic Conditions domains for HBMC. Notably, several quality domains emanating from the NQF Framework for Multiple Chronic Conditions (transitions, access, and patient/caregiver engagement) were applicable to HBMC. This quality of care framework serves as a guide for HBMC practices seeking to improve their care quality and as a starting point for health systems and payers to ensure value from HBMC practices with whom they work.     

Symptom Burden and Unmet Support Needs of Patients With Parkinson's Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study in Asia-Pacific Regions

ObjectivesSupport care is rarely assessed and offered to people with long-term neurologic conditions, particularly Parkinson's disease. This study aimed to assess the symptom burden and unmet support care needs in people with mild to severe Parkinson's disease.DesignCross-sectional study.Setting and ParticipantsPatients with Parkinson's disease were recruited from neurologic outpatient clinics from 3 East and Southeast Asian regions, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Thailand.MethodsA standardized set of questionnaires assessing unmet care needs [Palliative care Outcome Scale (POS)], disease-specific symptom burden (POS–Symptoms–Parkinson's Disease), generic health-related quality of life (HRQOL) (EQ-5D-3L), and sociodemographic and clinical background.ResultsCompleted questionnaires (n = 186) were collected from 64 Hong Kong Chinese, 64 Taiwanese, and 58 Thai patients. Their mean age was 67.23 ± 8.07, 54% were female, and 80% had mild-to-moderate disease. Their mean POS score was 10.48 ± 6.38, indicating moderate unmet support needs. Two-thirds of the participants rated constipation, fatigue, leg problem, and daytime somnolence as the most prevalent and burdensome symptoms. Patients from Hong Kong and Taiwan prioritized psychosocial and spiritual support, whereas Thai patients prioritized physical needs and emotional concerns. Multivariate adjustment for demographics and clinical characteristics showed that high psychological, spiritual, and practical burdens are associated with young age, male gender, and advanced disease stages.Conclusions and ImplicationsPatients experience significant symptom burden and moderate unmet support needs at the early to middle stage of Parkinson's disease. Routine assessment of changes in symptom burden should start early. The timely referral of support care services should provide appropriate psychospiritual and practical support in addition to motor training. Planning for support care services should consider cultural and health service contexts.     

Exploratory Factor Analysis of a Patient-Centered Cancer Care Measure to Support Improved Assessment of Patients’ Experiences

ObjectiveTo increase the understanding of patient-centered care (PCC) and address the need for cross-cutting quality cancer care measures that are relevant to both patients and providers.MethodsAn exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed on a short version of the Patients and the Cancer Care Experience Survey, a patient-reported measure of perceived importance of social, emotional, physical, and informational aspects of care, administered to adult patients (n = 104) at a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. Relationships between PCC dimensions and patient characteristics were also assessed. Principal axis factoring was applied and bivariate analyses were performed using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests.ResultsMost of our sample was over 60 years old (63.4%), female (57.4%), and white (74.2%), with either breast (41.2%) or prostate cancer (27.5%). A 5-factor model was identified: (1) quality of life (α = .91), (2) provider social support (α = .83), (3) psychosocial needs (α = .91), (4) nonprovider social support (α = .79), and (5) health information and decision-making support (α = .88). No statistically significant associations were found between these factors and patients’ characteristics.ConclusionsA preliminary factor structure for a cancer PCC measure was identified. Our findings reinforce the interrelated nature of PCC dimensions. The lessons learned from this study may be used to develop a single PCC measure that identifies patient priorities across the cancer care continuum. Data collected from such a measure can be used to support patient engagement in treatment planning and decision-making.     

The Association of Long-Term Opioid Use With Health Care and Home Care Service Use Among Aged Home Care Clients

ObjectivesTo compare health care and home care service utilization, mortality, and long-term care admissions between long-term opioid users and nonusers among aged home care clients.DesignA retrospective cohort study based on the Resident Assessment Instrument–Home Care (RAI-HC) assessments and electronic medical records.Setting and ParticipantsThe study sample included all regular home care clients aged ≥65 years (n = 2475), of whom 220 were long-term opioid users, in one city in Finland (population base 222,000 inhabitants).MethodsHealth care utilization, mortality, and long-term care admissions over a 1-year follow-up were recorded from electronic medical records, and home care service use from the RAI-HC. Negative binomial and multivariable logistic regression, adjusted for several socioeconomic and health characteristics, were used to analyze the associations between opioid use and health and home care service use.ResultsCompared with nonusers, long-term opioid users had more outpatient consultations (incidence rate ratio 1.26; 95% CI 1.08−1.48), home visits (1.23; 1.01−1.49), phone contacts (1.38; 1.13−1.68), and consultations without a patient attending a practice (1.22; 1.04−1.43) after adjustments. A greater proportion of long-term opioid users than nonusers had at least 1 hospitalization (49% vs 41%) but the number of inpatient days did not differ after adjustments. The home care nurses’ median work hours per week were 4.3 (Q₁-Q₃ 1.5−7.7) among opioid users and 2.8 (1.0−6.1) among nonusers. Mortality and long-term care admissions were not associated with opioid use.Conclusions and ImplicationsLong-term opioid use in home care clients is associated with increased health care utilization regardless of the severity of pain and other sociodemographic and health characteristics. This may indicate the inability of health care organizations to produce alternative treatment strategies for pain management when opioids do not meet patients’ needs. The exact reasons for opioid users’ greater health care utilization should be examined in future.     

Does access to end-of-life homecare nursing differ by province and community size?: A population-based cohort study of cancer decedents across Canada

BackgroundStudies have demonstrated the strong association between increased end-of-life homecare nursing use and reduced acute care utilization. However, little research has described the utilization patterns of end-of-life homecare nursing and how this differs by region and community size.MethodsA retrospective population-based cohort study of cancer decedents from Ontario, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia was conducted between 2004 and 2009. Provinces linked administrative databases which provide data about homecare nursing use for the last 6 months of life for each cancer decedent. Among weekly users of homecare nursing in their last six months of life, we describe the proportion of patients receiving end-of-life homecare nursing by province and community size.ResultsOur cohort included 83,746 cancer decedents across 3 provinces. Patients receiving end-of-life nursing among homecare nursing users increased from weeks −26 to −1 before death by: 78% to 93% in British Columbia, 40% to 81% in Ontario, and 52% to 91% in Nova Scotia. In all 3 provinces, the smallest community size had the lowest proportion of patients using end-of-life nursing compared to the second largest community size, which had the highest proportion.ConclusionsDifferences in end-of-life homecare nursing use are much larger between provinces than between community sizes.     

Factors Associated with Timing of the Start-of-Care Nursing Visits in Home Health Care

ObjectivesHome health care patients have critical needs requiring timely care following hospital discharge. Although Medicare requires timely start-of-care nursing visits, a significant portion of home health care patients wait longer than 2 days for the first visit. No previous studies investigated the pattern of start-of-care visits or factors associated with their timing. This study's purpose was to examine variation in timing of start-of-care visits and characterize patients with visits later than 2 days postdischarge.DesignRetrospective cohort study.Setting/participantsPatients admitted to a large, Northeastern US, urban home health care organization during 2019. The study included 48,497 home care episodes for 45,390 individual patients.MeasurementWe calculated time to start of care from hospital discharge for 2 patient groups: those seen within 2 days vs those seen >2 days postdischarge. We examined patient factors, hospital discharge factors, and timing of start of care using multivariate logistic regression.ResultsOf 48,497 episodes, 16,251 (33.5%) had a start-of-care nursing visit >2 days after discharge. Increased odds of this time frame were associated with being black or Hispanic and having solely Medicaid insurance. Odds were highest for patients discharged on Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays. Factors associated with visits within 2 days included surgical wound presence, urinary catheter, pain, 5 or more medications, and intravenous or infusion therapies at home.Conclusions and ImplicationsFindings provide the first publication of clinical and demographic characteristics associated with home health care start-of-care timing and its variation. Further examination is needed, and adjustments to staff scheduling and improved information transfer are 2 suggested interventions to decrease variation.     

The Association between Oral Nutritional Supplements and 30-Day Hospital Readmissions of Malnourished Patients at a US Academic Medical Center

BackgroundMalnutrition affects up to 50% of hospitalized patients and contributes to adverse health and economic outcomes, but often remains unrecognized or undertreated.ObjectiveThis study assessed the utilization of oral nutritional supplements (ONS) and its association with the number of 30-day unplanned hospital readmissions of adult malnourished patients in comparison with the readmissions rates of their malnourished counterparts who did not receive ONS.DesignThis was a retrospective cohort study.Participants/settingOf 153,161 inpatient encounters analyzed, a total of 8,713 (5.7%) malnourished adults admitted to an academic medical center hospital in the United States between October 1, 2016, and September 30, 2017 were included in the analyses. The study utilized records of patients at risk of malnutrition on admission and subsequently diagnosed as malnourished by a registered dietitian following established criteria.Main outcomes measuresONS utilization rate, hospital length of stay (LOS), and 30-day unplanned hospital readmissions data were obtained from electronic medical records.Statistical analyses performedThe associations between the number of 30-day unplanned hospital readmissions and ONS use were analyzed using mixed-effects negative binomial regression models, with coefficients and 95% CIs reported. Important covariates such as age, sex, and the severity of illness index were included in the regression models.ResultsOnly 3.1% of malnourished patients received ONS. ONS users had 38.8% fewer readmissions compared with non-ONS counterparts (P=0.017). The reduction in hospital readmissions by ONS was even greater for oncology patients (46.1%, P<0.001). A 50% reduction in time from hospital admission to ONS provision was associated with a 10.2% (P<0.01), 10.2% (P=0.014), and 16.6% (P<0.01) decrease in LOS for overall, oncology, and intensive care unit encounters, respectively.ConclusionsIn a large cohort of malnourished adult inpatient encounters, ONS provision rate was low, but when used, ONS intervention was associated with 38.8% fewer 30-day readmissions. This association was more pronounced for oncology encounters. Shorter LOS was observed when the interval between admission and ONS initiation was shorter. Reduced LOS and readmissions rates could result in financial benefits for health care systems prioritizing hospital nutrition care, in addition to informing significant medical benefits for their patients.     

163例ECMO治疗患者医院感染情况及其危险因素

目的 了解接受体外膜肺氧合(ECMO)支持治疗患者术后相关医院感染情况及其危险因素.方法 回顾性收集某院2013年1月—2019年12月应用ECMO支持治疗患者的病历资料,统计、分析ECMO术后医院感染情况及其危险因素.结果 163例ECMO支持治疗患者中,39例发生ECMO术后医院感染,感染发病率为23.93％.以下...     

Factors leading to discrepancies between prescription and intake of enteral nutrition therapy in hospitalized patients

ObjectiveWe investigated factors leading to a reduction in enteral nutrition (EN) prescribed by a nutritional support team (NST) at a general hospital in Brazil.MethodsIn this prospective, observational study, hospitalized adults receiving only EN therapy via tube feeding were followed for up to 21 d from July to October 2008.ResultsThe 152 subjects analyzed included 38 (23.5%) ward patients and 124 (76.5%) intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Eighty percent of the targeted feeding volume was achieved on day 4 by 80% of the patients. Reasons for not receiving the total amount of EN prescribed included delay in EN administration (3.1%), abdominal distention (5.6%), patient refusal of treatment (6.8%), feeding tube obstruction (8.6%), vomiting (10.5%), diarrhea (17.9%), unknown causes (17.9%), interference by a non-NST physician (25.9%), accidental feeding tube loss (34%), presence of high gastric residual (34%), and operational logistics at the hospital's Nutrition and Dietetics Service (99.4%). There was a significant association between patients who received <60% of the prescribed EN and external physician interference (P < 0.016). ICU patients also received inadequate EN (P < 0.025). Neurologic patients had a greater chance of receiving >81% of the prescribed EN amount than cardiac patients (odds ratio 3.75, P < 0.01).ConclusionMajor reasons for inadequate EN intake are (in decreasing order) operational logistical problems, gastric stasis, accidental loss of enteral feeding tube, and interference by an external physician (not an NST member). Cardiologic patients and ICU patients are at a higher risk for inadequacy than neurologic patients.     

Cancer Information Needs in Rural Areas

ABSTRACT

Although cancer presents obstacles for all who experience it, persons in rural communities must negotiate additional challenges. This study determined the cancer information (CI) needs and the CI-seeking behavior and preferences among rural-dwelling persons. Patients (N = 801) ≥ 50 years of age seen in 36 rural Kansas primary care practices completed a Cancer Care Information Needs Survey (CCINS); physicians completed a cancer resource knowledge and preference survey. Of the 801 patients, 184 (23%) reported a CI need. Of these 184 patients, 45% reported either not discussing cancer or having insufficient discussion time with their physicians; 44% needed more information after consulting their physician. Patients more likely to report a CI need were young, female, Internet users, persons with a prior cancer diagnosis, and persons seeing male physicians or physicians in group/multispecialty practices. Patients and physicians were unfamiliar with services provided by national cancer organizations. Physicians are a primary CI source; however, patients who need CI report insufficient cancer discussion time with their physician and need more CI after consulting their physician. Promoting access to national CI sources could bridge the CI needs gap that exists in rural areas currently.     

Level of Medical Intervention in Geriatric Settings: Decision Factors and Correlation With Mortality

ObjectivesLevel of medical intervention (LMI) has to be adapted to each patient in geriatric care. LMI scales intend to help nonintensive care (NIC) decisions, giving priority to patient choice and collegial discussion. In the present study, we aimed to assess the parameters associated with the NIC decision and whether these parameters differ from those associated with in-hospital mortality.DesignProspective observational study.Setting and ParticipantsAll consecutive patients from a French 62-bed acute geriatric unit over 1 year.MethodsFactors from the geriatric assessment associated with the decision of NIC were compared with those associated with in-hospital and 1-year mortality, in univariate and multivariate analyses.ResultsIn total, 1654 consecutive patients (median age 87 years) were included. Collegial reflection led to NIC decision for 532 patients (32%). In-hospital and 1-year mortality were 22% and 54% in the NIC group vs 2% and 27% in the rest of the cohort (P < .001 for both). In multivariable analysis, high Charlson Comorbidity Index [odds ratio (OR) 1.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06-1.23, per point], severe neurocognitive disorders (OR 2.78, 95% CI 1.67-4.55), dependence (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.45-2.59), and nursing home residence (OR 2.38, 95% CI 1.85-3.13) were highly associated with NIC decision but not with in-hospital mortality. Conversely, acute diseases had little impact on LMI despite their high short-term prognostic burden.Conclusions and ImplicationsNeurocognitive disorders and dependence were strongly associated with NIC decision, even though they were not significantly associated with in-hospital mortality. The decision-making process of LMI therefore seems to go beyond the notion of short-term survival.     

Surgical Admissions and Treatment Outcomes at a Tertiary Hospital Intensive Care Unit in Ethiopia: A Two-Year Review

BackgroundIntensive Care Unit (ICU) is a special unit where critically ill patients who require advanced respiratory or hemodynamic support are admitted. Little has been published about surgical intensive care unit patients in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to assess the pattern of admission and treatment outcomes of adult surgical patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at St. Paul''s Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC).MethodsA two-year retrospective medical record review of all adult surgical patients admitted to Intensive Care Unit at St. Paul''s Hospital Millennium Medical College.ResultsSurgical patients made up 91(22.1%) of 411 admissions of adult intensive care unit. Of these, 82 (M: F = 1.5:1) patients were analyzed. Age ranged from 16 to 82 years with a mean age of 43 years (SD +/-18.2). Emergency admissions accounted for 70(85.4%) cases. The top three primary admission diagnoses were generalized peritonitis secondary to perforated viscus (25,30.5%), bowel obstruction (21,25.6 %) and trauma (13,15.9%). Acute respiratory failure (38,46.3%) and septic shock (23,28.0%) were the leading indications of intensive care unit admission. Most patients (62,75.6%) received mechanical ventilatory support. The mean length of intensive care unit stay was 7.3 days (SD+/-5.2).Death occurred in 33(40.2%) patients. Mortality was higher in those who stayed for 48 hours (OR=5.6;95% CI 1.60–19.69; p=0.007) and in ventilated patients (OR=5.3; 95% CI 1.41–19.98; p=0.013).ConclusionThe observed mortality in this review was higher than the one in most reports. It was significantly high in patients who stayed for 48 hours and in those who required mechanical ventilatory support.     

Research Priorities in Post-acute and Long-term Care: Results of a Stakeholder Needs Assessment

ObjectivesConduct a needs assessment among post-acute and long-term care (PA-LTC) stakeholder groups to identify (1) research topics of highest priority and (2) perspectives on research, including concerns/barriers to conducting research in the PA-LTC setting.DesignMixed methods multistakeholder engagement process. Needs assessment conducted with tailored strategies per stakeholder group: interview, survey, and focus group.Setting and ParticipantsFour stakeholder groups—medical directors/providers (n = 89), administrative leadership (n = 5), frontline staff (n = 17), and family members of residents and residents themselves (n = 11)—were recruited from the Colorado PA-LTC community through an academic-community partnership between the University of Colorado and Colorado Medical Directors Association.Main Outcome(s)Stakeholder perspectives on research and high priority PA-LTC research topics.ResultsResearch priorities common across stakeholder groups included polypharmacy (overuse of medication generally and overuse of antibiotics specifically), care transitions, mental health (including dementia, Alzheimer's disease, behaviors), chronic pain, urinary tract infection, and quality of life issues. Providers specifically prioritized heart failure, Parkinson's, and other chronic illnesses. Administrators and directors of nurses emphasized hospitalizations. Staff prioritized medication/therapy compliance. Families/residents prioritized neurologic disease. Concerns included staff burden, consenting process, privacy, and family involvement.Conclusions/ImplicationsPA-LTC patients have a lot to offer as participants and decision makers in research, frontline staff are enthusiastic about participation, family members want to be involved, and providers value research findings in their practice but need a more supportive environment to produce and participate in research.     

Effectiveness of Comanagement Model: Geriatric Medicine and Vascular Surgery

ObjectivesOlder surgical patients frequently develop postoperative complications due to their frailty and multiple comorbidities. Geriatric medicine consultation helps to optimize risk factors and improve outcomes in patients with hip fracture. This study aimed to evaluate patient outcomes before and after comanagement model implementation between geriatric medicine (Geriatric Surgical Service) and vascular surgery services.DesignThis was a case-control study involving emergency vascular surgical patients who were comanaged by vascular surgery, geriatric medicine, and geriatric nursing services.Settings and ParticipantsThis study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Singapore from 2015 to 2018 with acute vascular surgical patients aged older than 65 years.MethodsA retrospective cohort of 135 patients from 2013 to 2014 (control group) who fulfilled the criteria for the comanagement model was compared with a prospective cohort of 348 patients who were comanaged by a geriatric surgical service from 2015 to 2018, and a further subgroup analysis of patients between 2015 and 2016 (n = 150) (early intervention group) and between 2017 and 2018 (n = 198) (late intervention group) was performed.ResultsComanaged patients had a significantly shorter length of hospital stay (11.6 vs 20.8 days, P = .001), reduced nosocomial infections (3% vs 12% for urinary tract infection, P = .003) and decreased 30-day readmission rates (22% vs 34%, P = .011). A trend of a decreased incidence of fluid overload was noted in patients comanaged with the geriatric surgical service (3% vs 7%, P = .073). Subgroup analysis showed progressive reductions in the length of stay (15.4 vs 11.6 days, P = .001), 30-day readmission rate (35% vs 22%, P = .01), and nosocomial urinary tract infection (8% vs 3%, P = .003) between the early intervention group and the late intervention group. Although they were not statistically significant, reductions were also observed in the delirium rate (13% vs 11%) and other postoperative medical complications in the early intervention group and the late intervention group.Conclusion and ImplicationsDespite having increasing comorbidities, older vascular surgical inpatients had a significantly shorter length of stay, reduced nosocomial infections, and decreased 30-day readmission rates through a comanagement model with vascular surgery and geriatric medicine services. Improvements in outcomes were observed over time as the model of care evolved. Geriatric medicine intervention in the perioperative period improves the outcomes of older acute vascular surgical patients.