scholarly journals QUALITY IMPROVEMENT IN LTC: EFFECTIVENESS OF MONTESSORI-BASED ACTIVITY PROGRAMMING IN VA COMMUNITY LIVING CENTER

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S949-S950
Author(s):  
Thomas Chacko ◽  
Kim Curyto ◽  
Michelle M Hilgeman ◽  
Virginia Keleher
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Physical Functioning ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Veterans Affairs ◽  
Community Living ◽  
Antipsychotic Medications ◽  
Meaningful Engagement ◽  
Community Living Centers

Abstract Montessori-based Activity Programming (MAP) was adapted for Veterans Affairs (VA) Community Living Centers (CLCs) and aims to increase independence and meaningful engagement in residents with cognitive impairment. The Montessori model prioritizes offering choice, knowing and harnessing a resident’s abilities, and enabling them to carry out purposeful roles and activities. Any perceived deficit in cognitive functioning is “circumvented” by preparing the environment to support maximum independence. The implementation of MAP-VA in VA Western NY CLC involved 3 lodges, 52 staff, 16 champions, and 65 CLC residents. Standardized implementation measures demonstrated improvements over six months in five domains assessing development of a resident-directed community. Hypothesized outcomes included improved national percentile quality improvement (QI) rankings related to psychological symptoms and medications (e.g., depressive symptoms and use of antipsychotic/antianxiety medications) and physical functioning (e.g., less falls and ability to move independently). Scores six months prior to the implementation of MAP-VA (April, 2018 to September, 2018) were compared with scores during six months of implementation post training (November, 2018 to March, 2019). Compared to pre-intervention QI measures related to psychological symptoms, a clinically meaningful trajectory of symptom decrease was observed with rankings during implementation (e.g., depressive symptoms, amount of antipsychotic medications). Likewise, compared to pre-intervention QI rankings regarding physical functioning, post-training rankings showed a trajectory of improvement (e.g., help with ADLs, ability to move independently). Implementation of the MAP-VA intervention demonstrates preliminary evidence for improvement in QI measures related to psychological symptoms and physical functioning. Implications for QI efforts in VA CLCs will be presented.

scholarly journals National trends in the treatment of urinary tract infections among Veterans’ Affairs Community Living Center residents

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (10) ◽  
pp. 1087-1093 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haley J. Appaneal ◽  
Aisling R. Caffrey ◽  
Vrishali V. Lopes ◽  
Christopher J. Crnich ◽  
David M. Dosa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urinary Tract ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Veterans Affairs ◽  
Community Living ◽  
Days Of Therapy ◽  
Community Living Centers ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
National Trends ◽  
Culture Positive ◽  
Culture Negative

AbstractObjective:To describe urinary tract infection (UTI) treatment among Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Community Living Centers (CLCs) nationally and to assess related trends in antibiotic use.Design:Descriptive study.Setting and participants:All UTI episodes treated from 2013 through 2017 among residents in 110 VA CLCs. UTI episodes required collection of a urine culture, antibiotic treatment, and a UTI diagnosis code. UTI episodes were stratified into culture-positive and culture-negative episodes.Methods:Frequency and rate of antibiotic use were assessed for all UTI episodes overall and were stratified by culture-positive and culture-negative episodes. Joinpoint software was used for regression analyses of trends over time.Results:We identified 28,247 UTI episodes in 14,983 Veterans. The average age of Veterans was 75.7 years, and 95.9% were male. Approximately half of UTI episodes (45.7%) were culture positive and 25.7% were culture negative. Escherichia coli was recovered in 34.1% of culture-positive UTI episodes, followed by Proteus mirabilis and Klebsiella spp, which were recovered in 24.5% and 17.4% of culture-positive UTI episodes, respectively. The rate of total antibiotic use in days of therapy (DOT) per 1,000 bed days decreased by 10.1% per year (95% CI, −13.6% to −6.5%) and fluoroquinolone use (ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin) decreased by 14.5% per year (95% CI, −20.6% to −7.8%) among UTI episodes overall. Similar reductions in rates of total antibiotic use and fluoroquinolone use were observed among culture-positive UTI episodes and among culture-negative UTI episodes.Conclusion:Over a 5-year period, antibiotic use for UTIs significantly decreased among VA CLCs, as did use of fluoroquinolones. Antibiotic stewardship efforts across VA CLCs should be applauded, and these efforts should continue.

Budget Impact Analysis of Veterans Affairs Medical Foster Homes versus Community Living Centers

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-54
Author(s):  
Bryce S. Sutton ◽  
Étienne Pracht ◽  
Arthur R. Williams ◽  
Farrokh Alemi ◽  
Allison E. Williams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Impact Analysis ◽  
Budget Impact ◽  
Veterans Affairs ◽  
Budget Impact Analysis ◽  
Community Living ◽  
Foster Homes ◽  
Community Living Centers

Risks and Benefits of Bladder Antimuscarinics Among Elderly Residents of Veterans Affairs Community Living Centers

2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 749-760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela C. Moga ◽  
Ryan M. Carnahan ◽  
Brian C. Lund ◽  
Jane F. Pendergast ◽  
Robert B. Wallace ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Veterans Affairs ◽  
Community Living ◽  
Risks And Benefits ◽  
Community Living Centers ◽  
Bladder Antimuscarinics

Measuring Use of Psychotropic Drugs in Veterans Affairs Community Living Centers

2014 ◽  
Vol 29 (9) ◽  
pp. 588-601 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Harvey ◽  
Dawn Currie ◽  
Amy Furman ◽  
Scott Mambourg
Keyword(s):  
Psychotropic Drugs ◽  
Veterans Affairs ◽  
Community Living ◽  
Community Living Centers

scholarly journals 2012. Trends in Microbiological Culture Collection Across Veterans Affairs Medical Centers and Community Living Centers, 2010 to 2017

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S675-S675
Author(s):  
Haley Appaneal ◽  
Aisling Caffrey ◽  
Stephanie Hughes ◽  
Vrishali Lopes ◽  
Robin L Jump ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Culture Collection ◽  
Veterans Affairs ◽  
Community Living ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Medical Centers ◽  
Community Living Centers ◽  
Veterans Affairs Medical Centers ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Background Microbiological cultures are critical in the diagnosis of infection, identification of pathogenic organisms, and tailoring antibiotic use. However, unnecessary collection of cultures, particularly from the urine, may lead to overuse of antibiotics. There have been no national studies to evaluate trends in the collection of cultures in acute and long-term care settings. Here we describe changes in the collection of cultures nationally across Veterans Affairs medical centers (VAMCs) and Community Living Centers (CLCs). Methods All positive and negative cultures collected from 2010 to 2017 among Veterans admitted to VAMCs or CLCs were included. Cultures were categorized by specimen source (urine, blood, skin and soft tissue, or lung). Joinpoint software was used for regression analyses of trends over time and to estimate annual average percent changes with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results A total of 5,089,640 cultures from 158 VAMCS and 342,850 cultures from 146 CLCs were identified. The number of cultures collected for all culture types in VAMCs and CLCs decreased significantly. The number of cultures collected per admission decreased significantly by 5.5% annually among VAMCs (95% CI −7.0 to −4.0%) and by 8.4% annually among CLCs (95% CI −10.1 to −6.6%). The proportion of positive cultures decreased 1.6% annually among VAMCs (95% CI −2.3 to −0.9%) and remained stable among CLCs (-0.4% annually, 95% CI, −1.1 to 0.4%). The most common culture source among VAMCs was blood (36.2%), followed by urine (31.8%), and among CLCs was urine (56.9%), followed by blood (16.0%). Urine cultures decreased by 4.5% annually among VAMCs (95% CI −5.4 to −3.6%) and 7.0% annually among CLCs (95% CI −7.6 to −6.4%). Conclusion Our study demonstrates a significant reduction in the number of cultures collected over time. Positive cultures decreased significantly in VAMCs, possibly indicating fewer culture-positive infections.In both VAMCs and CLCs, decreases in cultures taken may represent an important reduction in the collection of unnecessary cultures nationally driven by increased awareness about over-testing and over-treatment of presumed infection, particularly urinary tract infections. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

scholarly journals Quality Improvement Efforts in VA Community Living Centers Increased Following Public Reporting of Performance

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 22-22
Author(s):  
Heather Davila ◽  
Whitney Mills ◽  
Valerie Clark ◽  
Christine Hartmann ◽  
David Mohr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Nursing Homes ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Public Reporting ◽  
Performance Ratings ◽  
Comparative Case Study ◽  
Community Living ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Improve Performance ◽  
Community Living Centers

Abstract In 2018, the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) began publicly reporting performance ratings for its 134 Community Living Centers (CLCs; nursing homes) based on health inspections, staffing, and clinical quality measures. CLCs operate within a large, integrated healthcare system with unique financial and market incentives. Although public reporting has led to quality improvements in non-VA nursing homes, we do not know whether CLCs respond to public reporting differently than private sector nursing homes. To address this knowledge gap, we used a comparative case study approach involving 3 purposively selected CLCs with varied (low, medium, high) performance ratings. We conducted semi-structured interviews with personnel (n=12) responsible for quality measurement and improvement. Interviews focused on opinions of public reporting, actions taken to improve performance ratings, and motivations for change. Participants indicated public reporting improved transparency and provided an “outside perspective” on their performance. Strategies to improve performance ratings involved 1) data/information, 2) individual roles, and 3) teamwork/communication. All 3 CLCs made changes in these areas, yet respondents in the higher performing CLCs described implementing more strategies immediately after learning their ratings. Respondents in all 3 CLCs described being motivated to deliver good care and achieve public ratings that reflected the care they provided. This meant addressing internal weaknesses that contributed to lower scores for 2 CLCs. Our findings suggest public reporting may improve internal data collection, reporting, and quality improvement efforts in CLCs. They highlight the potential positive impact of public reporting in prompting quality improvement in nursing homes.

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