Physiotherapy into the 80's

During the 80's, physiotherapists will have to deal with many important issues such as effective legislation; the basic educational requirement for CPA membership; changes in the code of ethics; accreditation of educational and clinical programs; and standards for quality of care. The greatest challenge for physiotherapists may, however, lie in provision of cost-effective treatment. As governments shift from bedded to non-bedded services, the opportunities for physiotherapists to provide outpatient services may lie in increased private practice operations and the expanded services of community health centres, home care unit, and mobile clinics traveling to remote rural communities. Increasing demands by government and consumer groups for quality control of services provided will create a need for clinical research, to make certain that treatments are effective. Physiotherapists must continue to ensure that increases in the profession's basic educational requirement, body of knowledge, level of specialization, leadership development, resources, and status in the health team are adequate to meet the future expectations of the public sector. The problems facing physiotherapists in the '80s revolve around their credibility--as a professional groups, as clinicians and researchers in a specific field, and as members of a helping profession.     

Multiple sclerosis rehabilitation: inpatient vs. outpatient

Little is known concerning the costs and benefits of rehabilitation in multiple sclerosis (MS). The goal of this study was to compare the effects of inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation upon functional status, need for home assistance, and utilization of inpatient care. Eighty-four severely disabled MS patients were randomly assigned to either inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation. Both groups received similar rehabilitative services. Patients were evaluated at entry using the Incapacity Status Scale and a structured interview, with follow-up after 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Data collection is ongoing, but some analysis is provided of results obtained thus far.     

Home health care's unique role in serving the elderly mentally ill

Psychiatric home health services are a viable option for providing essential treatment to elderly clients having major mental disorders or acute psychiatric problems secondary to a medical illness. This valuable adjunct to in-home treatment can be provided by psychiatric mental health nurse specialists who work collaboratively with other mental health disciplines. If a home health agency does not have a psychiatric treatment component, it can expand its services by hiring a qualified psychiatric nurse and educating its interdisciplinary staff in the appropriate care of mentally ill clients. Referrals can be obtained from facilities for acute psychiatric disorders, psychiatrists, general hospitals, outpatient clinics, and patients themselves or their families. This important service can benefit acutely ill psychiatric patients by enabling them to be discharged from inpatient settings sooner and treated comfortably in the less restrictive environment of their home while receiving appropriate and adequate follow-up and referral. As such, it is cost-efficient to the client and society and represents the community-based care of the future for the mentally ill.     

Continuity of care. Balancing care of elders between health care settings

Continuing care planning and balancing care of elders are crucial components of health care today. The most sweeping change that has come with the advent of prospective pricing for the acute care setting is in the financing of health care for the aged and disabled. Prospective pricing, which uses the diagnosis-related group system, is the method chosen by federal agencies to restrain Medicare costs. For almost two decades, the hospital has been the reservoir for the impaired elderly who could not be returned home or to the community without support services. The system now encourages shortened hospital stays. Continuing care planning is the key to balancing the care of the elder through the process of discharge planning. We must assure patients and families that their needs will be met in the community when the patient is discharged. Balancing care of elders between health care settings through discharge planning is identified in three simple words: A Complex Process. As health care professionals, we must be ready to accept this challenge.     

Incorporating cultural issues in education for ethical practice

The population of most non-dominant ethnic groups in the USA is growing dramatically. Faculty members are challenged to develop curricula that adequately prepare our future nurses. An increased focus on clinical ethics has resulted from the use of sophisticated technology, changes in health care financing, an increasing elderly population and the shift of care from inpatient to outpatient settings. Nurses frequently face situations demanding resolution of ethical dilemmas involving cultural differences. Nursing curricula must include content on both ethics and cultural sensitivity. Active student participation is an important element providing a foundation for ethical practice. A proposed educational format was introduced with graduating baccalaureate students. In a pilot study, curricular content on cultural sensitivity and ethical practice was taught in separate modules. Students were then asked to identify and problem solve an ethical dilemma involving patients and professional caregivers from vastly different cultures. Course faculty members provided discussion questions to guide the students' thinking.     

Current status of hospice cancer deaths both in-unit and at home (1995-2000), and prospects of home care services in Japan

In Japan, the first government-approved hospice (GAH) and palliative care unit was established and commenced operations in 1990, and hospice medical care was made eligible for health insurance coverage. By 31 December 2000, the number of GAH institutions had increased to 86 (1,590 beds). The ratio of hospices to population in Japan is currently approximately 1:1.5 million, with an average of one hospice bed for approximately every 80,000 people. This study of institutions reports a survey conducted to determine the number of deaths (hospice unit and home) of GAH cancer patients, and to determine the servicing status of hospice home care for the period 1995 through 2000. The place of death of the patients cared for by GAHs in 2000 were: hospice units 97.7% and home 2.3%. GAH patient deaths (both inpatient and at home) in 2000 was 2.6% of the total number of cancer patients' deaths, an increase of 3.8-fold since 1995. Of the total number of GAH institutions, 62% are engaged in home care services and 91 % offer hospice care by hospice-assigned doctors. In addition, 72% offer team care with nurses based at Home Care Agencies. In order for the hospice (including home care service) to become established in a way most appropriate to each region of Japan, GAH institutions must assume significant promotional roles in their respective regions. One of the goals and assignments of establishing medical service with hospice home care in Japan is to develop the systematic care programs of GAH institutions, which include home care service in addition to the already established hospice unit and outpatient services.     

社区护理服务需求研究

目的：拓展社区护理服务的内容,寻找社区护理服务潜在需求,为研究社区护理未来的发展方向,制定相关政策和计划提供参考依据。方法：采用问卷调查方法对护理人员和社区居民进行社区卫生服务需求等相关内容的调查。结果：①社区居民对健康教育、疾病康复、慢性病随访、家庭卫生服务（居家护理）、连续治疗等存在比较大的需求;②护理人员对未来社区护理服务的潜在需求,倾向于慢性病护理、老年护理和居家护理。结论：社区健康教育的内容应以健康咨询、健康指导、用药指导为重点内容,社区护理服务应该加大对慢性病病人的随访和连续治疗的护理服务和家庭康复的护理服务。同时,应加强我国社区老年护理的模式的研究,适应我国人口老龄化的需要。     

Factors Influencing Long-Term Home Care Utilization by the Older Population: Implications for Targeting

This research was designed to explore factors that affect the choice of long-term care modalities in the older population and to discuss the appropriate target population of home health care services within the entire long-term care system. The study subjects' activities of daily living limitations, cognitive status, and sociodemograhic data at the time of admission were obtained from retrospective chart reviews. The sample included 134 older subjects who were receiving long-term care from a Long-Term Home Health Care Program or a nursing home in New York City. The results indicated that Long-Term Home Health Care Program use by older persons was characterized by a higher rate of being admitted from private homes, less cognitive impairments, less limitations in activities of daily living, and younger age than older patients who were nursing home residents. Consequently, in the choice of different care modalities, health-related factors of the older population were found to be more important predictors than sociodemographic characteristics or support system. The implication to both nurses and researchers is the development of eligibility criteria that captures the unique characteristics of disabled older persons in each of the different long-term care programs to serve them better in a cost-effective manner.     

Care needs and functional status of older acute care patients

A growing number of older adults are admitted to hospitals, and information is needed on how age-related functional decline affects nursing care needs of this population. This study compared the functional status at admission and total nursing care needs of three age groups of older inpatients. A 12-month retrospective audit was performed on the records of 225 patients in a private metropolitan hospital. The three groups of patients were matched on diagnosis. Findings revealed that older patients were significantly more dependent, had greater total nursing care needs, and were less likely to be discharged to home, indicating that in addition to medical diagnoses, age-related differences of older patients' functional status at admission and inpatient nursing care needs should be factored into staff workloads and funding of nursing care. The finding that significantly fewer of the older patients returned home must be considered when reviewing health care policy and services.     

Striving for excellence through quality improvement.

Numerous factors are affecting health care services today, including increased consumer awareness; growth of medical technology; rising costs and an unpredictable financial market; a continued shortage of health care professionals, especially nurses; and a shift of many services from inpatient to outpatient settings. As a result, American health care is undergoing rapid change. This article explores how one management concept--quality improvement--can help foster innovative, effective, and efficient change in today's health care organizations.     

What does it mean to be critically ill and elderly?

The number of critically ill elderly continues to rise, causing health care workers to be faced with decisions regarding aggressiveness of care, rationing of resources, and optimizing outcome. Although survival rates in the critically ill elderly may be lower than those in the younger critically ill, health care workers must focus on customizing treatment to optimize physiologic recovery, quality of life, and functional status. We advocate better research designs incorporating long-term outcomes and genetic predisposition as a means of improving care in the elderly critically ill.     

The emergency department care for hemodialysis patient during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic poses significant challenges to patients with end-stage kidney disease who receive treatment in outpatient dialysis centers. These patients represent a fragile population that is at higher risk for both infection and transmission. At the start of the pandemic, many suspected COVID-19 dialysis patients were diverted to the emergency department (ED) for testing/treatment, placing a tremendous burden on the ED and inpatient dialysis units. Several recommendations and guidelines have been established to optimize patient care while also decreasing the burden on the ED and inpatient dialysis units and maximizing the ability to perform outpatient hemodialysis. As the pandemic continues, dialysis facilities will have an increasing burden to provide safe and accessible dialysis, while also being able to direct patients to the ED for either emergent dialysis or COVID-19 treatment/testing. We reviewed opinions, recommendations and guidelines developed by professional organizations and dialysis facilities for the management of “patients under investigation” (PUIs) and COVID-19 positive patients that depend on whether the suspicion occurs while the patient is at home vs. at the dialysis center.     

Home cardiac rehabilitation for congestive heart failure: a nursing case management approach.

As the only major cardiovascular disease increasing in incidence and prevalence, congestive heart failure (CHF) is a major health threat. Progression of the disease often leads to severe disability and requires intensive medical and psychological management. Cardiac rehabilitation for CHF can improve a patient's functional ability, alleviate activity-related symptoms, improve quality of life, and restore and maintain physiological, psychological, and social status. The expansion of home care services and advances in technology allow cardiac rehabilitation to take place in the patient's home. Because of their training in health promotion and prevention, assessment, and coordination of services, nurses are the ideal providers of comprehensive home cardiac rehabilitation. Financially, physically, and psychologically beneficial for CHF patients and their families, home cardiac rehabilitation is also cost-effective for society. This article substantiates the benefits of home cardiac rehabilitation for patients with CHF and explains why nurses are the ideal case managers for such programs.     

Outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy: evolution of the Calgary adult home parenteral therapy program

In the past 25 years, outpatient antibiotic therapy has been recognized as a cost-effective, safe and patient-accepted means of managing patients with chronic infections who require prolonged parenteral therapy but otherwise do not need admission to hospital. We describe the home parenteral therapy program in Calgary, which reflects the next generation of outpatient antibiotic therapy in Canada because of its unique inclusion of patients with acute infections. The Calgary home parenteral therapy program has evolved from a few, small, single-site programs to a multisite, region-wide program that each year treats thousands of patients who require long- and short-term parenteral therapy. With escalating health care budgets and increased demand on acute-care hospital beds, existing programs in other centres may benefit from the Calgary experience, and this home parenteral therapy model may serve as a template for developing new outpatient antibiotic therapy programs in other regions.     

A comparison of the cost-effectiveness of hospital-based home care with that of a conventional outpatient follow-up for patients with mental illness

The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of a hospital-based home-care model with those of a conventional outpatient follow-up for mentally ill patients in Taiwan by means of cost-effectiveness analysis. The study design was a two group posthoc design. We interviewed 40 mentally ill patients who were followed up in the psychiatric outpatient department. Another 40 mentally ill patients who participated in a hospital based home care program were also interviewed. The outcome measures we used for interviews were disease maintenance behavior, psychotic symptoms, social function, service satisfaction, and cost. The cost for each patient was the sum of costs for all direct mental health services. The cost-effectiveness ratio showed that the costs of the hospital-based home care model (4.3) were lower than those of conventional outpatient follow-up (13.5) and that over a one-year period, the hospital-based home care model was associated with improvements in mental conditions, social functional outcomes, and service satisfaction. The improved outcomes and the lower costs in the hospital-based home care program support the view that it is the most cost-effective of the two. Policy makers may consider this analysis as they allocate resources and develop policy for the care of mentally ill patients.     

Palliative Care in India

Palliative care in India is in a relatively early stage of development and consequently faces numerous problems. The extent of problems relating to the lack of such care is not well described for cancer or nonmalignant diseases. Opioid availability is seriously limited. Many inexpensive drugs are not readily available and some very expensive drugs are often prescribed, adding to the patients' burden. Enormous psychosocial needs often are neglected in busy clinics. The government's palliative care policy has not been implemented. There are clear needs for improvement in multiple areas that must be addressed as new services develop. A system based on outpatient care has proven cost-effective, empowering families to care for patients at home. Whenever possible, inpatient facility and home visits should be available for those who need them. Some measures of quality assurance should develop concurrent with growth of the palliative care movement. Successes and problems in the development of palliative care in India are discussed.     

Palliative care in India: successes and limitations

Palliative care in India is in a relatively early stage of development and consequently faces numerous problems. The extent of problems relating to the lack of such care is not well described for cancer or nonmalignant diseases. Opioid availability is seriously limited. Many inexpensive drugs are not readily available and some very expensive drugs are often prescribed, adding to the patients' burden. Enormous psychosocial needs often are neglected in busy clinics. The government's palliative care policy has not been implemented. There are clear needs for improvement in multiple areas that must be addressed as new services develop. A system based on outpatient care has proven cost-effective, empowering families to care for patients at home. Whenever possible, inpatient facility and home visits should be available for those who need them. Some measures of quality assurance should develop concurrent with growth of the palliative care movement. Successes and problems in the development of palliative care in India are discussed.     

The home as a framework for health care

The past two or three decades have witnessed a steep rise in the cost of health and social services. It is anticipated that this uphill climb will continue and bring these systems to a complete collapse within a few decades. The prevention of this crisis depends on the elimination of some of the causes of the rise; (a) we do not want to save costs by sacrificing the quality of our services; (b) we have no control over the quantity of clients utilizing these services, or the seriousness of their problems; (c) we can, however, replace part of the expensive institutional care by the more natural and cost-effective home care, supplied by volunteers, strengthened by human and technological services. These principles guided an Israeli organization called Yad Sarah, whose leadership in the supply of home and community care enables thousands of ill, elderly and disabled people to remain at home, and thus save the high cost of institutionalization.     

Geriatrics for the 3rd millennium

It is a common knowledge that the population around the world is growing old at an unprecedented rate. This is the success story of increasing life expectancy. The demographic breakthroughs occurred in the 20th century. The quality of life breakthrough is our challenge for the 21st century. The implications of the growing elderly population are many, including: rising total health care expenditures; the increasing needs for long-term care services; and the need for expert and focused health care services. Since health care costs increase with advancing age of populations, these costs will fall on older persons, families, and society generally. There is real value for everyone in meeting the needs of an aging society, especially if seen as part of a social contract. The ability to live independently improves with access to good care, but decreases dramatically for those with age-related disabling conditions. With the decreasing number of informal caregivers around the world, frail elderly will require more formal long-term care services. However, due to inadequate attention given to long-term care issues, numerous developed countries have recently started to struggle to develop long-term care service programs that will both meet the rising needs for this service and be cost-effective. Effective medical care requires expertise in functional assessment, interdisciplinary care, and advances in treating symptoms of aging. The field of geriatrics is essential to modern health care, and geriatricians need to have proper training that focuses diagnosing and treating this group of patients. Quality care will not only help the elderly to live productively and independently, but it will also tremendously benefit families and communities.