scholarly journals Racial Disparities in 7-Day Readmissions from an Adult Hospital Medicine Service

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aksharananda Rambachan ◽  
Yumiko Abe-Jones ◽  
Alicia Fernandez ◽  
Yalda Shahram
Keyword(s):  
Limited English Proficiency ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Hospital Readmissions ◽  
Ethnic Disparities ◽  
Hospital Medicine ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Asian Patients ◽  
Medicine Service ◽  
Multivariable Regression ◽  
Adult Hospital

Abstract Background Health systems have targeted hospital readmissions to promote health equity as there may be racial and ethnic disparities across different patient groups. However, 7-day readmissions have been understudied in adult hospital medicine. Design This is a retrospective study. We performed multivariable logistic regression between patient race/ethnicity and 7-day readmission. Mediation analysis was performed for limited English proficiency (LEP) status. Subgroup analyses were performed for patients with initial admissions for congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cancer. Patients We identified all adults discharged from the adult hospital medicine service at UCSF Medical Center between July 2016 and June 2019. Main Measures The primary outcome was 7-day all-cause readmission back to the discharging hospital. Results There were 18,808 patients in our dataset who were discharged between July 2016 and June 2019. A total of 1,297 (6.9%) patients were readmitted within 7 days. Following multivariable regression, patients who identified as Black (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.15–1.58, p <0.001) and patients who identified as Asian (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.06–1.50, p = 0.008) had higher odds of readmission compared to white patients. Multivariable regression at the subgroup level for CHF, COPD, and cancer readmissions did not demonstrate significant differences between the racial and ethnic groups. Conclusions Black patients and Asian patients experienced higher rates of 7-day readmission than patients who identified as white, confirmed on adjusted analysis.

scholarly journals Diabetes Medication Reconciliation at Hospital Discharge

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A424-A424
Author(s):  
Nandi Shah ◽  
Kristen Kulasa
Keyword(s):  
Hospital Discharge ◽  
Educational Intervention ◽  
Medication Reconciliation ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Hospital Medicine ◽  
Inpatient Diabetes ◽  
Discharge Medication ◽  
Medicine Service ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Primary Service

Abstract Background: During hospital discharge, patients are at high risk for medication discrepancies as they transition from hospital to home. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of medication errors at hospital discharge for diabetes medications in patients who received an endocrinology consultation for diabetes and explore interventions to improve the accuracy of discharge medication reconciliation. Methods: All patients (n=3018) who received an endocrinology consultation for diabetes at a tertiary care medical center from October 2017 to December 2019 were included. A retrospective chart review was performed to collect the following information on each patient: primary service from which the patient was discharged, hospital site, month and year of discharge date, and whether each patient’s medication reconciliation for diabetes medications at hospital discharge was in agreement with the inpatient diabetes team’s recommendations. Patients who were discharged on medications discordant from those recommended by the inpatient diabetes service were subcategorized into three groups: 1) one medication incorrect 2) more than one medication incorrect and 3) the primary service did not notify the consult team of patient’s discharge or request final recommendations for diabetes medications prior to discharge. Based on the findings of this study, an educational intervention was implemented in November 2019 to the Hospital Medicine services regarding diabetes discharge medication reconciliation. Results: Of the 3018 patients who received an endocrinology consultation for diabetes at a tertiary university medical center, 2279 patients (76%) were discharged on correct medications, 165 patients (5%) were discharged with one incorrect medication, 443 patients (15%) were discharged with more than one incorrect medication, and 121 patients (4%) were discharged without final discharge recommendations from the diabetes service. There was no significant variation based on discharging service or month of the year. After an educational intervention was implemented in November 2019 to the Hospital Medicine service on the existence and use of a comprehensive diabetes discharge order set, the percentage of patients discharged on correct medications improved to 92% (11/12 patients) compared to prior 81% (44/54 patients). Conclusion: Despite detailed discharge medication recommendations including patient education detailing the recommended regimen by the endocrinology diabetes service, a significant number of patients were discharged by providers across all services on diabetes medications discrepant with the diabetes service’s recommendations. Educational efforts improved the rate of correct medications at discharge on the Hospital Medicine service, and additional educational interventions with other services may be helpful in improving medication reconciliation accuracy.

Evaluating Hospital Readmissions for Persons With Serious and Complex Illness: A Competing Risks Approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 77 (6) ◽  
pp. 574-583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter May ◽  
Melissa M. Garrido ◽  
Egidio Del Fabbro ◽  
Danielle Noreika ◽  
Charles Normand ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Competing Risks ◽  
High Mortality ◽  
Hospital Readmission ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Hospital Readmissions ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Hospital Readmission Rate ◽  
Diagnosis Of Cancer

Hospital readmission rate is a ubiquitous measure of efficiency and quality. Individuals with life-limiting illnesses account heavily for admissions but evaluation is complicated by high-mortality rates. We report a retrospective cohort study examining the association between palliative care (PC) and readmissions while controlling for postdischarge mortality with a competing risks approach. Eligible participants were adult inpatients admitted to an academic, safety-net medical center (2009-2015) with at least one diagnosis of cancer, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, liver failure, kidney failure, AIDS/HIV, and selected neurodegenerative conditions. PC was associated with reduced 30-, 60-, and 90-day readmissions (subhazard ratios = 0.57, 0.53, and 0.52, respectively [all p < .001]). Hospital PC is associated with a reduction in readmissions, and this is not explained by higher mortality among PC patients. Performance measures only counting those alive at a given end point may underestimate systematically the effects of treatments with a high-mortality rate.

scholarly journals A Taxonomic Review of Patient Complaints in Adult Hospital Medicine

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 237437352110073
Author(s):  
Richard M Elias ◽  
Karen M Fischer ◽  
Mustaqeem A Siddiqui ◽  
Trevor Coons ◽  
Cindy A Meyerhofer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Hospital Medicine ◽  
Patient Complaints ◽  
Period Data ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Key Features ◽  
Person Characteristics ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Adult Hospital

Previous studies show that patient complaints can identify gaps in quality of care, but it is difficult to identify trends without categorization. We conducted a review of complaints relating to admissions on hospital internal medicine (HIM) services over a 26-month period. Data were collected on person characteristics and key features of the complaint. The complaints were also categorized into a previously published taxonomy. Seventy-six unsolicited complaints were identified, (3.5 per 1000 hospital admissions). Complaints were more likely on resident services. The mean duration between encounter and complaint was 18 days, and it took an average of 12 days to resolve the complaint. Most patients (59%) had a complaint in the Relationship domain. Thirty-nine percent of complaints mentioned a specific clinician. When a clinician was mentioned, complaints regarding communication and humaneness predominated (68%). The results indicate that the efforts to reduce patient complaints in HIM should focus on the Relationships domain.

A review of literature on risk prediction tools for hospital readmissions in older adults

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Louise Gatt ◽  
Maria Cassar ◽  
Sandra C. Buttigieg
Keyword(s):  
Risk Prediction ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
Hospital Readmissions ◽  
Predictive Ability ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Risk Category ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Prediction Tools ◽  
Readmission Risk

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify and analyse the readmission risk prediction tools reported in the literature and their benefits when it comes to healthcare organisations and management.Design/methodology/approach Readmission risk prediction is a growing topic of interest with the aim of identifying patients in particular those suffering from chronic diseases such as congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes, who are at risk of readmission. Several models have been developed with different levels of predictive ability. A structured and extensive literature search of several databases was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis strategy, and this yielded a total of 48,984 records.Findings Forty-three articles were selected for full-text and extensive review after following the screening process and according to the eligibility criteria. About 34 unique readmission risk prediction models were identified, in which their predictive ability ranged from poor to good (c statistic 0.5–0.86). Readmission rates ranged between 3.1 and 74.1% depending on the risk category. This review shows that readmission risk prediction is a complex process and is still relatively new as a concept and poorly understood. It confirms that readmission prediction models hold significant accuracy at identifying patients at higher risk for such an event within specific context.Research limitations/implications Since most prediction models were developed for specific populations, conditions or hospital settings, the generalisability and transferability of the predictions across wider or other contexts may be difficult to achieve. Therefore, the value of prediction models remains limited to hospital management. Future research is indicated in this regard.Originality/value This review is the first to cover readmission risk prediction tools that have been published in the literature since 2011, thereby providing an assessment of the relevance of this crucial KPI to health organisations and managers.

scholarly journals Together in Care: An Enhanced Meals on Wheels Intervention Designed to Reduce Rehospitalizations among Older Adults with Cardiopulmonary Disease—Preliminary Findings

2022 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 458
Author(s):  
Panagis Galiatsatos ◽  
Adejoke Ajayi ◽  
Joyce Maygers ◽  
Stephanie Archer Smith ◽  
Lucy Theilheimer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Engagement ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Food Delivery ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Meals On Wheels ◽  
Hospital Expenditures ◽  
Access To Food ◽  
The Impact

Rehospitalizations in the Medicare population may be influenced by many diverse social factors, such as, but not limited to, access to food, social isolation, and housing safety. Rehospitalizations result in significant cost in this population, with an expected increase as Medicare enrollment grows. We designed a pilot study based upon a partnership between a hospital and a local Meals on Wheels agency to support patients following an incident hospitalization to assess impact on hospital utilization. Patients from an urban medical center who were 60 years or older, had a prior hospitalization in the past 12 months, and had a diagnosis of diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were recruited. Meals on Wheels provided interventions over 3 months of the patient’s transition to home: food delivery, home safety inspection, social engagement, and medical supply allocation. Primary outcome was reduction of hospital expenditure. In regard to the results, 84 participants were included in the pilot cohort, with the majority (54) having COPD. Mean age was 74.9 ± 10.5 years; 33 (39.3%) were female; 62 (73.8%) resided in extreme socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods. Total hospital expenditures while the cohort was enrolled in the transition program were $435,258 ± 113,423, a decrease as compared to $1,445,637 ± 325,433 (p < 0.01) of the cohort’s cost during the three months prior to enrollment. In conclusion, the initiative for patients with advanced chronic diseases resulted in a significant reduction of hospitalization expenditures. Further investigations are necessary to define the impact of this intervention on a larger cohort of patients as well as its generalizability across diverse geographic regions.

scholarly journals Telehealth Use by Age and Race at a Single Academic Medical Center During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Retrospective Cohort Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer P Stevens ◽  
Oren Mechanic ◽  
Lawrence Markson ◽  
Ashley O'Donoghue ◽  
Alexa B Kimball
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Health Care Disparities ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Cohort Analysis ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Race And Gender ◽  
Asian Patients ◽  
Academic Medical

BACKGROUND During the COVID-19 pandemic, many ambulatory clinics transitioned to telehealth, but it remains unknown how this may have exacerbated inequitable access to care. OBJECTIVE Given the potential barriers faced by different populations, we investigated whether telehealth use is consistent and equitable across age, race, and gender. METHODS Our retrospective cohort study of outpatient visits was conducted between March 2 and June 10, 2020, compared with the same time period in 2019, at a single academic health center in Boston, Massachusetts. Visits were divided into in-person visits and telehealth visits and then compared by racial designation, gender, and age. RESULTS At our academic medical center, using a retrospective cohort analysis of ambulatory care delivered between March 2 and June 10, 2020, we found that over half (57.6%) of all visits were telehealth visits, and both Black and White patients accessed telehealth more than Asian patients. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that the rapid implementation of telehealth does not follow prior patterns of health care disparities.

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