scholarly journals Predicting hospital readmission risk: A prospective observational study to compare primary care providers’ assessments with the LACE readmission risk index

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0260943
Author(s):  
Sakina Walji ◽  
Warren McIsaac ◽  
Rahim Moineddin ◽  
Sumeet Kalia ◽  
Michelle Levy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Observational Study ◽  
Predictive Power ◽  
Prospective Observational Study ◽  
Risk Index ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Discharge Summary ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Physician Assessment ◽  
Readmission Risk

Purpose This study aims to determine if the primary care provider (PCP) assessment of readmission risk is comparable to the validated LACE tool at predicting readmission to hospital. Methods A prospective observational study of recently discharged adult patients clustered by PCPs in the primary care setting. Physician readmission risk assessment was determined via a questionnaire after the PCP reviewed the hospital discharge summary. LACE scores were calculated using administrative data and the discharge summary. The sensitivity and specificity of the physician assessment and the LACE tool in predicting readmission risk, agreement between the 2 assessments and the area under receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curves were calculated. Results 217 patient readmission encounters were included in this study from September 2017 till June 2018. The rate of readmission within 30 days was 14.7%, and 217 discharge summaries were used for analysis. The weighted kappa coefficient was 0.41 (95% CI: 0.30–0.51) demonstrating a moderate level of agreement. Sensitivity of physician assessment was 0.31 (95% CI: 0.22–0.40) and specificity was 0.80 (95% CI: 0.77–0.83). The sensitivity of the LACE assessment was 0.42 (95% CI: 0.25–0.59) and specificity was 0.79 (95% CI: 0.73–0.85). The AUROC for the LACE readmission risk was 0.65 (95% C.I. 0.55–0.76) demonstrating modest predictive power and was 0.57 (95% C.I. 0.46–0.68) for physician assessment, demonstrating low predictive power. Conclusion The LACE index shows moderate discriminatory power in identifying high-risk patients for readmission when compared to the PCP’s assessment. If this score can be provided to the PCP, it may help identify patients who requires more intensive follow-up after discharge.

scholarly journals Live Usability Testing of Two Complex Clinical Decision Support Tools: Observational Study (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Safiya Richardson ◽  
David Feldstein ◽  
Thomas McGinn ◽  
Linda S Park ◽  
Sundas Khan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Observational Study ◽  
Clinical Decision Support ◽  
Usability Testing ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Chief Complaint ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Clinical Environment

BACKGROUND Potential of the electronic health records (EHR) and clinical decision support (CDS) systems to improve the practice of medicine has been tempered by poor design and the resulting burden they place on providers. CDS is rarely tested in the real clinical environment. As a result, many tools are hard to use, placing strain on providers and resulting in low adoption rates. The existing CDS usability literature relies primarily on expert opinion and provider feedback via survey. This is the first study to evaluate CDS usability and the provider-computer-patient interaction with complex CDS in the real clinical environment. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to further understand the barriers and facilitators of meaningful CDS usage within a real clinical context. METHODS This qualitative observational study was conducted with 3 primary care providers during 6 patient care sessions. In patients with the chief complaint of sore throat, a CDS tool built with the Centor Score was used to stratify the risk of group A Streptococcus pharyngitis. In patients with a chief complaint of cough or upper respiratory tract infection, a CDS tool built with the Heckerling Rule was used to stratify the risk of pneumonia. During usability testing, all human-computer interactions, including audio and continuous screen capture, were recorded using the Camtasia software. Participants’ comments and interactions with the tool during clinical sessions and participant comments during a postsession brief interview were placed into coding categories and analyzed for generalizable themes. RESULTS In the 6 encounters observed, primary care providers toggled between addressing either the computer or the patient during the visit. Minimal time was spent listening to the patient without engaging the EHR. Participants mostly used the CDS tool with the patient, asking questions to populate the calculator and discussing the results of the risk assessment; they reported the ability to do this as the major benefit of the tool. All providers were interrupted during their use of the CDS tool by the need to refer to other sections of the chart. In half of the visits, patients’ clinical symptoms challenged the applicability of the tool to calculate the risk of bacterial infection. Primary care providers rarely used the incorporated incentives for CDS usage, including progress notes and patient instructions. CONCLUSIONS Live usability testing of these CDS tools generated insights about their role in the patient-provider interaction. CDS may contribute to the interaction by being simultaneously viewed by the provider and patient. CDS can improve usability and lessen the strain it places on providers by being short, flexible, and customizable to unique provider workflow. A useful component of CDS is being as widely applicable as possible and ensuring that its functions represent the fastest way to perform a particular task.

Discharge Summary for Medically Complex Infants Transitioning to Primary Care

2014 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 204-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer J. Peacock
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Premature Infant ◽  
Information Transfer ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Discharge Summary ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Problem List ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Medical Complexity

Improvements in the care of the premature infant and advancements in technology are increasing life expectancy of infants with medical conditions once considered lethal; these infants are at risk of becoming a medically complex infant. Complex infants have a significant existing problem list, are on several medications, and receive medical care by several specialists. Deficits in communication and information transfer at the time of discharge remain problematic for this population. A questionnaire was developed for primary care providers (PCPs) to explore the effectiveness of the current discharge summary because it is related to effective communication when assuming the care of a new patient with medical complexity. PCPs assuming the care of these infants agree that an evidence-based tool, in the form of a specialized summary for this population, would be of value.

The Perspective of Older Men With Depression on Suicide and Its Prevention in Primary Care

Crisis ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 397-405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Vannoy ◽  
Mijung Park ◽  
Meredith R. Maroney ◽  
Jürgen Unützer ◽  
Ester Carolina Apesoa-Varano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Low Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Older Men ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Depression Treatment ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Low Socioeconomic ◽  
Self Image ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Background: Suicide rates in older men are higher than in the general population, yet their utilization of mental health services is lower. Aims: This study aimed to describe: (a) what primary care providers (PCPs) can do to prevent late-life suicide, and (b) older men's attitudes toward discussing suicide with a PCP. Method: Thematic analysis of interviews focused on depression and suicide with 77 depressed, low-socioeconomic status, older men of Mexican origin, or US-born non-Hispanic whites recruited from primary care. Results: Several themes inhibiting suicide emerged: it is a problematic solution, due to religious prohibition, conflicts with self-image, the impact on others; and, lack of means/capacity. Three approaches to preventing suicide emerged: talking with them about depression, talking about the impact of their suicide on others, and encouraging them to be active. The vast majority, 98%, were open to such conversations. An unexpected theme spontaneously arose: "What prevents men from acting on suicidal thoughts?" Conclusion: Suicide is rarely discussed in primary care encounters in the context of depression treatment. Our study suggests that older men are likely to be open to discussing suicide with their PCP. We have identified several pragmatic approaches to assist clinicians in reducing older men's distress and preventing suicide.

The Bridge Program: A Model for Delivering Mental Health Services to Asian Americans through Primary Care

2005 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongtu Chen ◽  
Elizabeth Kramer ◽  
Teddy Chen ◽  
Jianping Chen ◽  
Henry Chung
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Asian Americans ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Bridge Program ◽  
Community Awareness

Compared to all other racial and ethnic groups, Asian Americans have the lowest utilization of mental health services. Contributing factors include extremely low community awareness about mental health, a lack of culturally competent Asian American mental health professionals, and severe stigma associated with mental illness. This manuscript describes an innovative program that bridges the gap between primary care and mental health services. The Bridge Program, cited in the supplement to the Surgeon’s General’s Report on Mental Health: Culture, Race, and Ethnicity as a model for delivery of mental health services through primary care; (2) to improve capacity by enhancing the skills of primary care providers to identify and treat mental disorders commonly seen in primary care; and (3) to raise community awareness by providing health education on mental health and illness. Results are presented and the potential for replication is addressed.

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