1
|
Samosh J, Agha A, Pettey D, Sylvestre J, Aubry T. Community Mental Health Services for Frequent Emergency Department Users: A Qualitative Study of Outcomes Perceived by Program Clients and Case Managers. Prof Case Manag 2024; 29:139-148. [PMID: 38037223 DOI: 10.1097/ncm.0000000000000692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF STUDY This study aimed to investigate the perceived outcomes and mechanisms of change of a community mental health service combining system navigation and intensive case management supports for frequent emergency department users presenting with mental illness or addiction. PRIMARY PRACTICE SETTING The study setting was a community mental health agency receiving automated referrals directly from hospitals in a midsize Canadian city for all individuals attending an emergency department two or more times within 30 days for mental illness or addiction. METHODOLOGY AND SAMPLE Qualitative interviews with 15 program clients. Focus groups with six program case managers. Data were analyzed using pragmatic qualitative thematic analysis. RESULTS Participants generally reported perceiving that the program contributed to reduced emergency department use, reduced mental illness symptom severity, and improved quality of life. Perceived outcomes were more mixed for outcomes related to addiction. Reported mechanisms of change emphasized the importance of positive working relationships between program clients and case managers, as well as focused efforts to develop practical skills. IMPLICATIONS FOR CASE MANAGEMENT PRACTICE Community mental health services including intensive case management for frequent emergency department users presenting with mental illness or addiction were perceived to effectively address client needs while reducing emergency department resource burden. Similar programs should emphasize the development of consistent and warm working relationships between program clients and case managers, as well as practical skills development to support client health and well-being.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Samosh
- Jonathan Samosh, MSc, is a PhD candidate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Ottawa's School of Psychology and Centre for Research on Educational and Community Services. His research interests include community mental health and homelessness
- Ayda Agha, MScCH, is a PhD candidate in Experimental Psychology at the University of Ottawa's School of Psychology and Centre for Research on Educational and Community Services. Her research interests include community mental health and homelessness
- Donna Pettey, PhD, RSW, is Director of Integration, Research, and Evaluation at the Canadian Mental Health Association's Ottawa Branch. She provides research leadership to the agency to support clinical decision-making in the provision of community mental health services
- John Sylvestre, PhD, is Full Professor at the School of Psychology and Senior Researcher at the Centre for Research on Educational and Community Services at the University of Ottawa. His research interests include community mental health and homelessness
- Tim Aubry, PhD, CPsych, is Full Professor at the School of Psychology and Senior Researcher at the Centre for Research on Educational and Community Services at the University of Ottawa. His research interests include community mental health and homelessness
| | - Ayda Agha
- Jonathan Samosh, MSc, is a PhD candidate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Ottawa's School of Psychology and Centre for Research on Educational and Community Services. His research interests include community mental health and homelessness
- Ayda Agha, MScCH, is a PhD candidate in Experimental Psychology at the University of Ottawa's School of Psychology and Centre for Research on Educational and Community Services. Her research interests include community mental health and homelessness
- Donna Pettey, PhD, RSW, is Director of Integration, Research, and Evaluation at the Canadian Mental Health Association's Ottawa Branch. She provides research leadership to the agency to support clinical decision-making in the provision of community mental health services
- John Sylvestre, PhD, is Full Professor at the School of Psychology and Senior Researcher at the Centre for Research on Educational and Community Services at the University of Ottawa. His research interests include community mental health and homelessness
- Tim Aubry, PhD, CPsych, is Full Professor at the School of Psychology and Senior Researcher at the Centre for Research on Educational and Community Services at the University of Ottawa. His research interests include community mental health and homelessness
| | - Donna Pettey
- Jonathan Samosh, MSc, is a PhD candidate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Ottawa's School of Psychology and Centre for Research on Educational and Community Services. His research interests include community mental health and homelessness
- Ayda Agha, MScCH, is a PhD candidate in Experimental Psychology at the University of Ottawa's School of Psychology and Centre for Research on Educational and Community Services. Her research interests include community mental health and homelessness
- Donna Pettey, PhD, RSW, is Director of Integration, Research, and Evaluation at the Canadian Mental Health Association's Ottawa Branch. She provides research leadership to the agency to support clinical decision-making in the provision of community mental health services
- John Sylvestre, PhD, is Full Professor at the School of Psychology and Senior Researcher at the Centre for Research on Educational and Community Services at the University of Ottawa. His research interests include community mental health and homelessness
- Tim Aubry, PhD, CPsych, is Full Professor at the School of Psychology and Senior Researcher at the Centre for Research on Educational and Community Services at the University of Ottawa. His research interests include community mental health and homelessness
| | - John Sylvestre
- Jonathan Samosh, MSc, is a PhD candidate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Ottawa's School of Psychology and Centre for Research on Educational and Community Services. His research interests include community mental health and homelessness
- Ayda Agha, MScCH, is a PhD candidate in Experimental Psychology at the University of Ottawa's School of Psychology and Centre for Research on Educational and Community Services. Her research interests include community mental health and homelessness
- Donna Pettey, PhD, RSW, is Director of Integration, Research, and Evaluation at the Canadian Mental Health Association's Ottawa Branch. She provides research leadership to the agency to support clinical decision-making in the provision of community mental health services
- John Sylvestre, PhD, is Full Professor at the School of Psychology and Senior Researcher at the Centre for Research on Educational and Community Services at the University of Ottawa. His research interests include community mental health and homelessness
- Tim Aubry, PhD, CPsych, is Full Professor at the School of Psychology and Senior Researcher at the Centre for Research on Educational and Community Services at the University of Ottawa. His research interests include community mental health and homelessness
| | - Tim Aubry
- Jonathan Samosh, MSc, is a PhD candidate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Ottawa's School of Psychology and Centre for Research on Educational and Community Services. His research interests include community mental health and homelessness
- Ayda Agha, MScCH, is a PhD candidate in Experimental Psychology at the University of Ottawa's School of Psychology and Centre for Research on Educational and Community Services. Her research interests include community mental health and homelessness
- Donna Pettey, PhD, RSW, is Director of Integration, Research, and Evaluation at the Canadian Mental Health Association's Ottawa Branch. She provides research leadership to the agency to support clinical decision-making in the provision of community mental health services
- John Sylvestre, PhD, is Full Professor at the School of Psychology and Senior Researcher at the Centre for Research on Educational and Community Services at the University of Ottawa. His research interests include community mental health and homelessness
- Tim Aubry, PhD, CPsych, is Full Professor at the School of Psychology and Senior Researcher at the Centre for Research on Educational and Community Services at the University of Ottawa. His research interests include community mental health and homelessness
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Viswanathan M, Kennedy SM, Sathe N, Eder ML, Ng V, Kugley S, Lewis MA, Gottlieb LM. Evaluating Intensity, Complexity, and Potential for Causal Inference in Social Needs Interventions: A Review of a Scoping Review. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2417994. [PMID: 38904959 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.17994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Interventions that address needs such as low income, housing instability, and safety are increasingly appearing in the health care sector as part of multifaceted efforts to improve health and health equity, but evidence relevant to scaling these social needs interventions is limited. Objective To summarize the intensity and complexity of social needs interventions included in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and assess whether these RCTs were designed to measure the causal effects of intervention components on behavioral, health, or health care utilization outcomes. Evidence Review This review of a scoping review was based on a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute-funded evidence map of English-language US-based RCTs of social needs interventions published between January 1, 1995, and April 6, 2023. Studies were assessed for features related to intensity (defined using modal values as providing as-needed interaction, 8 participant contacts or more, contacts occurring every 2 weeks or more often, encounters of 30 minutes or longer, contacts over 6 months or longer, or home visits), complexity (defined as addressing multiple social needs, having dedicated staff, involving multiple intervention components or practitioners, aiming to change multiple participant behaviors [knowledge, action, or practice], requiring or providing resources or active assistance with resources, and permitting tailoring), and the ability to assess causal inferences of components (assessing interventions, comparators, and context). Findings This review of a scoping review of social needs interventions identified 77 RCTs in 93 publications with a total of 135 690 participants. Most articles (68 RCTs [88%]) reported 1 or more features of high intensity. All studies reported 1 or more features indicative of high complexity. Because most studies compared usual care with multicomponent interventions that were moderately or highly dependent on context and individual factors, their designs permitted causal inferences about overall effectiveness but not about individual components. Conclusions and Relevance Social needs interventions are complex, intense, and include multiple components. Our findings suggest that RCTs of these interventions address overall intervention effectiveness but are rarely designed to distinguish the causal effects of specific components despite being resource intensive. Future studies with hybrid effectiveness-implementation and sequential designs, and more standardized reporting of intervention intensity and complexity could help stakeholders assess the return on investment of these interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara M Kennedy
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Nila Sathe
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Michelle L Eder
- Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Portland, Oregon
| | - Valerie Ng
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Shannon Kugley
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Megan A Lewis
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Laura M Gottlieb
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Alter DA, Austin PC, Rosenfeld A. The Dynamic Nature of the Socioeconomic Determinants of Cardiovascular Health: A Narrative Review. Can J Cardiol 2024; 40:989-999. [PMID: 38309464 DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2024.01.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite decades of social epidemiologic research, health inequities remain pervasive and ubiquitous in Canada and elsewhere. One reason may be our use of socioeconomic measurement, which has often relied on single point-in-time exposures. To explore the extent to which researchers have incorporated dynamic socioeconomic measurement into cardiovascular health outcome evaluations, we performed a narrative review. We estimated the prevalence of socioeconomic longitudinal cardiovascular research studies that identified socioeconomic exposures at 2 or more points in time between the years of 2019 and 2023. We defined cardiovascular outcome studies as those that examined coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome, stroke, heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac death, cardiometabolic factors, transient ischemic attacks, peripheral artery disease, or hypertension. Socioeconomic exposures included individual income, neighbourhood income, intergenerational social mobility, education, occupation, insurance status, and economic security. Seven percent of socioeconomic cardiovascular outcome studies have measured socioeconomic status at 2 or more points in time throughout the follow-up period, hypothesized mechanisms by which dynamic socioeconomic measures affected outcome focused on social mobility, accumulation, and critical period theories. Insights, implications, and future directions are discussed, in which we highlight ways in which postal code data can be better used methodologically as a dynamic socioeconomic measure. Future research must incorporate dynamic socioeconomic measurement to better inform root causes, interventions, and health-system designs if health equity is to be improved.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David A Alter
- ICES, Sunnybrook Health Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Peter C Austin
- ICES, Sunnybrook Health Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Aaron Rosenfeld
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Shen M, Osman K, Blumenthal DM, DeMuth K, Liu Y. Home Heart Hospital Associated With Reduced Hospitalizations and Costs Among High-Cost Patients With Cardiovascular Disease. Clin Cardiol 2024; 47:e24302. [PMID: 38874052 PMCID: PMC11177177 DOI: 10.1002/clc.24302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is no widely accepted care model for managing high-need, high-cost (HNHC) patients. We hypothesized that a Home Heart Hospital (H3), which provides longitudinal, hospital-level at-home care, would improve care quality and reduce costs for HNHC patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). OBJECTIVE To evaluate associations between enrollment in H3, which provides longitudinal, hospital-level at-home care, care quality, and costs for HNHC patients with CVD. METHODS This retrospective within-subject cohort study used insurance claims and electronic health records data to evaluate unadjusted and adjusted annualized hospitalization rates, total costs of care, part A costs, and mortality rates before, during, and following H3. RESULTS Ninety-four patients were enrolled in H3 between February 2019 and October 2021. Patients' mean age was 75 years and 50% were female. Common comorbidities included congestive heart failure (50%), atrial fibrillation (37%), coronary artery disease (44%). Relative to pre-enrollment, enrollment in H3 was associated with significant reductions in annualized hospitalization rates (absolute reduction (AR): 2.4 hospitalizations/year, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: -0.8, -4.0; p < 0.001; total costs of care (AR: -$56 990, 95% CI: -$105 170, -$8810; p < 0.05; and part A costs (AR: -$78 210, 95% CI: -$114 770, -$41 640; p < 0.001). Annualized post-H3 total costs and part A costs were significantly lower than pre-enrollment costs (total costs of care: -$113 510, 95% CI: -$151 340, -$65 320; p < 0.001; part A costs: -$84 480, 95% CI: -$121 040, -$47 920; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Longitudinal home-based care models hold promise for improving quality and reducing healthcare spending for HNHC patients with CVD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Shen
- Novolink Health (Previously Duxlink Health), A Division of Cardiovascular Associates of America, Sunrise, Florida, USA
| | - Kareem Osman
- University of California Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Daniel M Blumenthal
- Novocardia, A Division of Cardiovascular Associates of America, Celebration, Florida, USA
- Cardiology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kaelin DeMuth
- Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine South Georgia, Moultrie, Georgia, USA
| | - Yixiang Liu
- Novolink Health (Previously Duxlink Health), A Division of Cardiovascular Associates of America, Sunrise, Florida, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
GOTTLIEB LAURAM, HESSLER DANIELLE, WING HOLLY, GONZALEZ‐ROCHA ALEJANDRA, CARTIER YURI, FICHTENBERG CAROLINE. Revising the Logic Model Behind Health Care's Social Care Investments. Milbank Q 2024; 102:325-335. [PMID: 38273221 PMCID: PMC11176407 DOI: 10.1111/1468-0009.12690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Policy Points This article summarizes recent evidence on how increased awareness of patients' social conditions in the health care sector may influence health and health care utilization outcomes. Using this evidence, we propose a more expansive logic model to explain the impacts of social care programs and inform future social care program investments and evaluations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- LAURA M. GOTTLIEB
- University of CaliforniaSan Francisco
- Social Interventions Research and Evaluation NetworkCenter for Health and CommunityUniversity of CaliforniaSan Francisco
| | - DANIELLE HESSLER
- University of CaliforniaSan Francisco
- Social Interventions Research and Evaluation NetworkCenter for Health and CommunityUniversity of CaliforniaSan Francisco
| | - HOLLY WING
- Social Interventions Research and Evaluation NetworkCenter for Health and CommunityUniversity of CaliforniaSan Francisco
| | - ALEJANDRA GONZALEZ‐ROCHA
- Social Interventions Research and Evaluation NetworkCenter for Health and CommunityUniversity of CaliforniaSan Francisco
| | - YURI CARTIER
- Social Interventions Research and Evaluation NetworkCenter for Health and CommunityUniversity of CaliforniaSan Francisco
| | - CAROLINE FICHTENBERG
- University of CaliforniaSan Francisco
- Social Interventions Research and Evaluation NetworkCenter for Health and CommunityUniversity of CaliforniaSan Francisco
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wilson KH, Johnson RA, Hatzimasoura C, Holman RP, Moore RT, Yokum D. A randomized controlled trial evaluating the effects of nurse-led triage of 911 calls. Nat Hum Behav 2024:10.1038/s41562-024-01889-6. [PMID: 38789524 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-024-01889-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
To better connect non-emergent 911 callers to appropriate care, Washington, DC, routed low-acuity callers to nurses. Nurses could provide non-emergent transportation to a health centre, recommend self-care or return callers to the traditional 911 system. Over about one year, 6,053 callers were randomized (1:1) to receive a business-as-usual response (ncontrol = 3,023) or further triage (ntreatment = 3,030). We report on seven of nine outcomes, which were pre-registered ( https://osf.io/xderw ). The proportion of calls resulting in an ambulance dispatch dropped from 97% to 56% (β = -1.216 (-1.324, -1.108), P < 0.001), and those resulting in an ambulance transport dropped from 73% to 45% (β = -3.376 (-3.615, -3.137), P < 0.001). Among those callers who were Medicaid beneficiaries, within 24 hours, the proportion of calls resulting in an emergency department visit for issues classified as non-emergent or primary care physician (PCP) treatable dropped from 29.5% to 25.1% (β = -0.230 (-0.391, -0.069), P < 0.001), and the proportion resulting in the caller visiting a PCP rose from 2.5% to 8.2% (β = 1.252 (0.889, 1.615), P < 0.001). Over the longer time span of six months, we failed to detect evidence of impacts on emergency department visits, PCP visits or Medicaid expenditures. From a safety perspective, 13 callers randomized to treatment were eventually diagnosed with a time-sensitive illness, all of whom were quickly triaged to an ambulance response. These short-term effects suggest that nurse-led triage of non-emergent calls can safely connect callers to more appropriate, timely care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Rebecca A Johnson
- The Lab @ DC, Washington, DC, USA
- McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | | | - Ryan T Moore
- The Lab @ DC, Washington, DC, USA
- School of Public Affairs, American University, Washington, DC, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Chuang E, Safaeinili N. Addressing Social Needs in Clinical Settings: Implementation and Impact on Health Care Utilization, Costs, and Integration of Care. Annu Rev Public Health 2024; 45:443-464. [PMID: 38134403 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-061022-050026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, health care policy makers have focused increasingly on addressing social drivers of health as a strategy for improving health and health equity. Impacts of social, economic, and environmental conditions on health are well established. However, less is known about the implementation and impact of approaches used by health care providers and payers to address social drivers of health in clinical settings. This article reviews current efforts by US health care organizations and public payers such as Medicaid and Medicare to address social drivers of health at the individual and community levels. We summarize the limited available evidence regarding intervention impacts on health care utilization, costs, and integration of care and identify key lessons learned from current implementation efforts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emmeline Chuang
- School of Social Welfare, Mack Center on Public and Nonprofit Management in the Human Services, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA;
| | - Nadia Safaeinili
- Division of Primary Care and Population Health, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Heath M, Bernstein SJ, Paje D, McLaughlin E, Horowitz JK, McKenzie A, Leyden T, Flanders SA, Chopra V. Improving Appropriate Use of Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters Through a Statewide Collaborative Hospital Initiative: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2024:S1553-7250(24)00102-8. [PMID: 38762387 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcjq.2024.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Quality improvement (QI) programs require significant financial investment. The authors evaluated the cost-effectiveness of a physician-led, performance-incentivized, QI intervention that increased appropriate peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) use. METHODS The authors used an economic evaluation from a health care sector perspective. Implementation costs included incentive payments to hospitals and costs for data abstractors and the coordinating center. Effectiveness was calculated from propensity score-matched observations across two time periods for complications (venous thromboembolism [VTE], central line-associated bloodstream infection [CLABSI], and catheter occlusion): preintervention period (January 2015 through December 2016) and intervention period (January 2017 through December 2021). Cost-effectiveness was presented as the cost-offset per averted complication, reflecting the health care costs avoided due to having lower complication rates. RESULTS Across 35 hospitals, this study sampled 17,418 PICCs placed preintervention and 26,004 placed during the intervention period. PICC complications decreased significantly following the intervention. CLABSIs decreased from 2.1% to 1.5%, VTEs from 3.2% to 2.3%, and catheter occlusions from 10.8% to 7.0% (all p < 0.01). Estimated number of complications prevented included 871 CLABSIs, 2,535 VTEs, and 8,743 catheter occlusions. Project implementation costs were $31.8 million, and the cost-offset related to avoided complications was $64.4 million. Each participating hospital averaged $932,073 in cost-offset over seven years, and the average cost-offset per complication averted was $2,614 (95% CI [confidence interval] $2,314-$3,003). CONCLUSION A large-scale, multihospital QI initiative to improve appropriate PICC use yielded substantial return on investment from cost-offset of prevented complications.
Collapse
|
9
|
Brooks Carthon JM, Brom H, Grantham-Murrillo M, Sliwinski K, Mason A, Roeser M, Miles D, Garcia D, Bennett J, Harhay MO, Flores E, Amenyedor K, Clark R. Equity-Centered Postdischarge Support for Medicaid-Insured People: Protocol for a Type 1 Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Stepped Wedge Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc 2024; 13:e54211. [PMID: 38530349 PMCID: PMC11005441 DOI: 10.2196/54211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Disparities in posthospitalization outcomes for people with chronic medical conditions and insured by Medicaid are well documented, yet interventions that mitigate them are lacking. Prevailing transitional care interventions narrowly target people aged 65 years and older, with specific disease processes, or limitedly focus on individual-level behavioral change such as self-care or symptom management, thus failing to adequately provide a holistic approach to ensure an optimal posthospital care continuum. This study evaluates the implementation of THRIVE-an evidence-based, equity-focused clinical pathway that supports Medicaid-insured individuals with multiple chronic conditions transitioning from hospital to home by focusing on the social determinants of health and systemic and structural barriers in health care delivery. THRIVE services include coordinating care, standardizing interdisciplinary communication, and addressing unmet clinical and social needs following hospital discharge. OBJECTIVE The study's objectives are to (1) examine referral patterns, 30-day readmission, and emergency department use for participants who receive THRIVE support services compared to those receiving usual care and (2) evaluate the implementation of the THRIVE clinical pathway, including fidelity, feasibility, appropriateness, and acceptability. METHODS We will perform a sequential randomized rollout of THRIVE to case managers at the study hospital in 3 steps (4 in the first group, 4 in the second, and 5 in the third), and data collection will occur over 18 months. Inclusion criteria for THRIVE participation include (1) being Medicaid insured, dually enrolled in Medicaid and Medicare, or Medicaid eligible; (2) residing in Philadelphia; (3) having experienced a hospitalization at the study hospital for more than 24 hours with a planned discharge to home; (4) agreeing to home care at partner home care settings; and (5) being aged 18 years or older. Qualitative data will include interviews with clinicians involved in THRIVE, and quantitative data on health service use (ie, 30-day readmission, emergency department use, and primary and specialty care) will be derived from the electronic health record. RESULTS This project was funded in January 2023 and approved by the institutional review board on March 10, 2023. Data collection will occur from March 2023 to July 2024. Results are expected to be published in 2025. CONCLUSIONS The THRIVE clinical pathway aims to reduce disparities and improve postdischarge care transitions for Medicaid-insured patients through a system-level intervention that is acceptable for THRIVE participants, clinicians, and their teams in hospitals and home care settings. By using our equity-focused case management services and leveraging the power of the electronic medical record, THRIVE creates efficiencies by identifying high-need patients, improving communication across acute and community-based sectors, and driving evidence-based care coordination. This study will add important findings about how the infusion of equity-focused principles in the design and evaluation of evidence-based interventions contributes to both implementation and effectiveness outcomes. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/54211. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05714605; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05714605.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Heather Brom
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | | | | | - Aleigha Mason
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Mindi Roeser
- Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Donna Miles
- Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Dianne Garcia
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Jovan Bennett
- Penn Center for Community Health Workers, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | | | - Emilia Flores
- University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | | | - Rebecca Clark
- Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Sage WM, Warren KD. Swimming Together Upstream: How to Align MLP Services with U.S. Healthcare Delivery. THE JOURNAL OF LAW, MEDICINE & ETHICS : A JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF LAW, MEDICINE & ETHICS 2024; 51:786-797. [PMID: 38477273 PMCID: PMC10937178 DOI: 10.1017/jme.2023.163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Medical-legal partnership (MLP) embeds attorneys and paralegals into care delivery to help clinicians address root causes of health inequities. Notwithstanding decades of favorable outcomes, MLP is not as well-known as might be expected. In this essay, the authors explore ways in which strategic alignment of legal services with healthcare services in terms of professionalism, information collection and sharing, and financing might help the MLP movement become a more widespread, sustainable model for holistic care delivery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William M Sage
- TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, FORT WORTH, TX, USA
- TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, FORT WORTH, TX, USA
| | - Keegan D Warren
- TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER, FORT WORTH, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Desveaux L, Ivers N. Practice or perfect? Coaching for a growth mindset to improve the quality of healthcare. BMJ Qual Saf 2024:bmjqs-2023-016456. [PMID: 38355297 DOI: 10.1136/bmjqs-2023-016456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Desveaux
- Trillium Health Partners Institute for Better Health, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
- Institute for Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Noah Ivers
- Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Family & Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Doyle J, Alsan M, Skelley N, Lu Y, Cawley J. Effect of an Intensive Food-as-Medicine Program on Health and Health Care Use: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med 2024; 184:154-163. [PMID: 38147326 PMCID: PMC10751657 DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2023.6670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Importance Food-as-medicine programs are becoming increasingly common, and rigorous evidence is needed regarding their effects on health. Objective To test whether an intensive food-as-medicine program for patients with diabetes and food insecurity improves glycemic control and affects health care use. Design, Setting, and Participants This stratified randomized clinical trial using a wait list design was conducted from April 19, 2019, to September 16, 2022, with patients followed up for 1 year. Patients were randomly assigned to either participate in the program immediately (treatment group) or 6 months later (control group). The trial took place at 2 sites, 1 rural and 1 urban, of a large, integrated health system in the mid-Atlantic region of the US. Eligibility required a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, a hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level of 8% or higher, food insecurity, and residence within the service area of the participating clinics. Intervention The comprehensive program provided healthy groceries for 10 meals per week for an entire household, plus dietitian consultations, nurse evaluations, health coaching, and diabetes education. The program duration was typically 1 year. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was HbA1c level at 6 months. Secondary outcomes included other biometric measures, health care use, and self-reported diet and healthy behaviors, at both 6 months and 12 months. Results Of 3712 patients assessed for eligibility, 3168 were contacted, 1064 were deemed eligible, 500 consented to participate and were randomized, and 465 (mean [SD] age, 54.6 [11.8] years; 255 [54.8%] female) completed the study. Of those patients, 349 (mean [SD] age, 55.4 [11.2] years; 187 [53.6%] female) had laboratory test results at 6 months after enrollment. Both the treatment (n = 170) and control (n = 179) groups experienced a substantial decline in HbA1c levels at 6 months, resulting in a nonsignificant, between-group adjusted mean difference in HbA1c levels of -0.10 (95% CI, -0.46 to 0.25; P = .57). Access to the program increased preventive health care, including more mean (SD) dietitian visits (2.7 [1.8] vs 0.6 [1.3] visits in the treatment and control groups, respectively), patients with active prescription drug orders for metformin (134 [58.26] vs 119 [50.64]) and glucagon-like peptide 1 medications (114 [49.56] vs 83 [35.32]), and participants reporting an improved diet from 1 year earlier (153 of 164 [93.3%] vs 132 of 171 [77.2%]). Conclusions and Relevance In this randomized clinical trial, an intensive food-as-medicine program increased engagement with preventive health care but did not improve glycemic control compared with usual care among adult participants. Programs targeted to individuals with elevated biomarkers require a control group to demonstrate effectiveness to account for improvements that occur without the intervention. Additional research is needed to design food-as-medicine programs that improve health. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03718832.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Doyle
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management, Cambridge
| | - Marcella Alsan
- Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Nicholas Skelley
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management, Health Systems Initiative, Cambridge
| | - Yutong Lu
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management, Health Systems Initiative, Cambridge
| | - John Cawley
- Cornell University, Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy, Ithaca, New York
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Hogg-Graham R, Benitez JA, Lacy ME, Bush J, Lang J, Nikolaou H, Clear ER, McCullough JM, Waters TM. Association Between Community Social Vulnerability and Preventable Hospitalizations. Med Care Res Rev 2024; 81:31-38. [PMID: 37731391 DOI: 10.1177/10775587231197248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Preventable hospitalizations are common and costly events that burden patients and our health care system. While research suggests that these events are strongly linked to ambulatory care access, emerging evidence suggests they may also be sensitive to a patient's social, environmental, and economic conditions. This study examines the association between variations in social vulnerability and preventable hospitalization rates. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of county-level preventable hospitalization rates for 33 states linked with data from the 2020 Social Vulnerability Index (SVI). Preventable hospitalizations were 40% higher in the most vulnerable counties compared with the least vulnerable. Adjusted regression results confirm the strong relationship between social vulnerability and preventable hospitalizations. Our results suggest wide variation in community-level preventable hospitalization rates, with robust evidence that variation is strongly related to a community's social vulnerability. The human toll, societal cost, and preventability of these hospitalizations make understanding and mitigating these inequities a national priority.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Juan Lang
- University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Weeks WB, Rizk RC, Rowe SP, Fishman EK, Chu LC. Unraveled: Prescriptions to Repair a Broken Health System. J Am Coll Radiol 2024:S1546-1440(24)00131-5. [PMID: 38295920 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacr.2024.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- William B Weeks
- Director of the AI for Health Research at Microsoft AI for Good Research Lab, Redmond, Washington
| | - Ryan C Rizk
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Steven P Rowe
- Division Chief of Molecular Imaging and Therapeutics, Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Elliot K Fishman
- Director of Body CT, Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Linda C Chu
- Director of Body MRI and Associate Division Director of the Diagnostic Division, Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Hoornbeek J, Chiyaka ET, Lanese B, Vreeland A, Filla J. Financing community partnerships for health equity: Findings and insights from cross-sector professionals. Health Serv Res 2024; 59 Suppl 1:e14237. [PMID: 37867323 PMCID: PMC10796277 DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.14237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To enhance understanding of financial alignment challenges facing cross-sector partnerships (CSPs) pursuing health equity and offer insights to guide research and practice. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SETTING We collected data through surveys and interviews with cross-sector professionals in 16 states, 2020-2021. STUDY DESIGN We surveyed 51 CSP leaders and received 26 responses. Following administration of the surveys to CSP leaders, we also conducted interviews with cross-sector professionals. The data are analyzed descriptively, comparatively, and qualitatively using thematic analysis. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS For quantitative survey data, we compare partnership responses, differentiating perceived levels of alignment among partnerships certified by the Pathways Community HUB Institute (PCHI), partnerships interested in certification, and partnerships without connection to the PCHI® Model of care coordination. For interviews, we engaged CSP professionals and those who fund their work. Two research team members took notes for interviews, which were combined and made available for review by those interviewed. Data were analyzed independently by two team members who met to integrate, identify, and finalize thematic findings. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Our work supports previous findings that financing is a challenge for CSPs, while also suggesting that PCHI-certified partnerships may perceive greater progress in financial alignment than others. We identify four major financial barriers: limited and competitive funding; state health service delivery structures; cultural and practice divides across healthcare, social service, and public health sectors; and needs for further evidence of cross-sector service impacts on client health and costs. We also offer a continuum of measures of financial sustainability progress and identify key issues relating to financial incentivization/accountability. CONCLUSION Findings suggest a need for public policy reviews and improvements to aid CSPs in addressing financial alignment challenges. We also offer a measurement framework and ideas to guide research and practice on financial alignment, based on empirical data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John Hoornbeek
- Health Policy and Management, Center for Public Policy and Health, College of Public HealthKent State UniversityKentOhioUSA
| | - Edward T. Chiyaka
- Department of Social Sciences and Outpatient Practice, School of PharmacyWingate UniversityWingateNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Bethany Lanese
- Health Policy and Management, Center for Public Policy and Health, College of Public HealthKent State UniversityKentOhioUSA
| | | | - Joshua Filla
- Center for Public Policy and Health, College of Public HealthKent State UniversityKentOhioUSA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Finkelstein A, Cantor JC, Gubb J, Koller M, Truchil A, Zhou RA, Doyle J. The Camden Coalition Care Management Program Improved Intermediate Care Coordination: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Health Aff (Millwood) 2024; 43:131-139. [PMID: 38118060 DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2023.01151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
When a randomized evaluation finds null results, it is important to understand why. We investigated two very different explanations for the finding from a randomized evaluation that the Camden Coalition's influential care management program-which targeted high-use, high-need patients in Camden, New Jersey-did not reduce hospital readmissions. One explanation is that the program's underlying theory of change was not right, meaning that intensive care coordination may have been insufficient to change patient outcomes. Another explanation is a failure of implementation, suggesting that the program may have failed to achieve its goals but could have succeeded if it had been implemented with greater fidelity. To test these two explanations, we linked study participants to Medicaid data, which covered 561 (70 percent) of the original 800 participants, to examine the program's impact on facilitating postdischarge ambulatory care-a key element of care coordination. We found that the program increased ambulatory visits by 15 percentage points after fourteen days postdischarge, driven by an increase in primary care; these effects persisted through 365 days. These results suggest that care coordination alone may be insufficient to reduce readmissions for patients with high rates of hospital admissions and medically and socially complex conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amy Finkelstein
- Amy Finkelstein , Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Joel C Cantor
- Joel C. Cantor, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| | - Jesse Gubb
- Jesse Gubb, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
| | | | | | | | - Joseph Doyle
- Joseph Doyle, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Hogg-Graham R, Waters TM, Clear ER, Pearson K, Benitez JA, Mays GP. Longitudinal Trends in Insurer Participation in Multisector Population Health Activities. INQUIRY : A JOURNAL OF MEDICAL CARE ORGANIZATION, PROVISION AND FINANCING 2024; 61:469580241249092. [PMID: 38742676 PMCID: PMC11095183 DOI: 10.1177/00469580241249092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Healthcare organizations increasingly engage in activities to identify and address social determinants of health (SDOH) among their patients to improve health outcomes and reduce costs. While several studies to date have focused on the evolving role of hospitals and physicians in these types of population health activities, much less is known about the role health insurers may play. We used data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Public Health Systems for the period 2006 to 2018 to examine trends in health insurer participation in population health activities and in the multi-sector collaborative networks that support these activities. We also used a difference-in-differences approach to examine the impact of Medicaid expansion on insurer participation in population health networks. Insurer participation increased in our study period both in the delivery of population health activities and in the integration into collaborative networks that support these activities. Insurers were most likely to participate in activities focusing on community health assessment and policy development. Results from our adjusted difference-in-differences models showed variation in association between insurer participation in population health networks and Medicaid expansion (Table 2). Population health networks in expansion states experienced significant increases insurer participation in assessment (4.48 percentage points, P < .05) and policy and planning (7.66 percentage points, P < .05) activities. Encouraging insurance coverage gains through policy mechanisms like Medicaid expansion may not only improve access to healthcare services but can also act as a driver of insurer integration into population health networks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Teresa M. Waters
- Institute for Public and Preventive Health, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
| | | | | | | | - Glen P. Mays
- University of Colorado Anschutz Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Runnels P, Penman J, Schreiber S, Dolber T, Lee K, Pronovost PJ. A Conceptual Framework for Building Individual and Team Capabilities to Provide Effective Longitudinal, Relationship-Based Clinical Case Management. Popul Health Manag 2023; 26:408-412. [PMID: 37955652 DOI: 10.1089/pop.2023.0165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Individuals with complex, chronic diseases represent 5% of the population but consume 50% of the costs of care. These patients have complex lives, characterized by multiple chronic physical health conditions paired with a combination of behavioral health issues and/or unmet social needs. Unlike for most health problems, the problems faced by individuals with complex lives cannot be broken down into simpler parts to be solved independent from 1 another. In this article, the authors describe a 2-phase framework for improving outcomes in patients with complex lives, outline how the model works in more detail, and discuss lessons learned in this journey. In phase 1, a case manager carefully and deliberately focuses on building a relationship with the patient to first gain trust, and then identify, in partnership with the patient, how to best approach assisting the patient in improving their health. That pathway is often unknowable without a deep investment of time, a radical acceptance of the patient, faults and all, and an unwavering commitment to stay by their side, even when things are tough. Once the case manager and patient have established a trusting relationship, they enter phase 2-building a path toward wellness, including further emphasis on the relationship, solving prioritized issues, changing the health system approach, and engaging the patient in self-reflection and behavior change activities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Runnels
- Department of Population Health, University Hospitals, Shaker Heights, Ohio, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - James Penman
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Steve Schreiber
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Trygve Dolber
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Kipum Lee
- Department of Innovation and Product Strategy, UH Ventures, Shaker Heights, Ohio, USA
- Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Peter J Pronovost
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Segel JE. What's driving spending differences in medical groups and what might that mean for health policy. Health Serv Res 2023; 58:1161-1163. [PMID: 37750048 PMCID: PMC10622272 DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.14231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Joel E. Segel
- Department of Health Policy and AdministrationPenn State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvaniaUSA
- Penn State Cancer InstituteHersheyPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Public Health SciencesPenn State College of MedicineHersheyPennsylvaniaUSA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Kitzman H, Dodgen L, Vargas C, Khan M, Montgomery A, Patel M, Ajoku B, Allison P, Strauss AM, Bowen M. Community health worker navigation to improve allostatic load: The Integrated Population Health (IPOP) study. Contemp Clin Trials Commun 2023; 36:101235. [PMID: 38156244 PMCID: PMC10753173 DOI: 10.1016/j.conctc.2023.101235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Social determinants of health (SDOH) and cumulative stress contribute to chronic disease development. The physiological response to repeated stressors typical of lower-income environments can be measured through allostatic load - a composite measure of cardiovascular, metabolic, and immune variables. Healthcare systems have employed patient navigation for social and medical needs to improve SDOH that has demonstrated limited impact on chronic disease outcomes. This study evaluates a novel community health worker navigation intervention developed using behavioral theories to improve access to social and medical services and provide social support for poverty stressed adults. Methods The Integrated Population Health Study (IPOP) study is a randomized, parallel two arm study evaluating community health worker navigation in addition to an existing integrated population health program (IPOP CHW) as compared to Usual Care (population health program only, IPOP) on allostatic load and chronic disease risk factors. IPOP CHW participants receive a 10-month navigation intervention. Results From 381 screened individuals, a total of 202 participants (age 58.15 ± 12.03 years, 74.75 % female, 79.21 % Black/African American, 17.33 % Hispanic) were enrolled and randomized to IPOP CHW (n = 100) or IPOP Only (n = 102). Conclusion This study will evaluate whether CHW navigation, using a structured intervention based on health behavior theories, can effectively guide poverty stressed individuals to address social and medical needs to improve allostatic load-a composite of cumulative stress and physiological responses. Healthcare systems, nonprofit organizations, and governmental entities are interested in addressing SDOH to improve health, thus developing evidence-based interventions could have broad clinical and policy implications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heather Kitzman
- Peter J. O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
- Baylor Scott and White Health, 4500 Spring Ave, Dallas, TX, 75210, USA
| | - Leilani Dodgen
- Baylor Scott and White Health, 4500 Spring Ave, Dallas, TX, 75210, USA
| | - Cristian Vargas
- Baylor Scott and White Health, 4500 Spring Ave, Dallas, TX, 75210, USA
| | - Mahbuba Khan
- Baylor Scott and White Health, 4500 Spring Ave, Dallas, TX, 75210, USA
| | - Aisha Montgomery
- Baylor Scott and White Health, 4500 Spring Ave, Dallas, TX, 75210, USA
| | - Meera Patel
- Peter J. O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Brittany Ajoku
- Baylor Scott and White Health, 4500 Spring Ave, Dallas, TX, 75210, USA
| | - Patricia Allison
- Baylor Scott and White Health, 4500 Spring Ave, Dallas, TX, 75210, USA
| | | | - Michael Bowen
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Bond A. Margin notes from the COVID-19 pandemic for the future of healthcare innovation. Healthc Manage Forum 2023; 36:393-398. [PMID: 37439203 PMCID: PMC10345824 DOI: 10.1177/08404704231185487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has been characterized as a "big-event disruption" that fundamentally challenged the sustainability of existing healthcare business and service models and demanded innovation through "dual transformation" simultaneously to both core operations and the evolution of new strategic directions. The concept of disruptive innovation as applied to healthcare is reviewed and the strategies of distributed healthcare organizations supporting the most medically and socially complex communities during the COVID-19 pandemic are described as demonstrative of the promise of disruptive innovation in healthcare to bring about the necessary shift away from acute and facility-based care to integrated health and social care in the community. The place of new digital health technologies including "big data" analytics, digital platforms, and artificial intelligence/machine learning are identified as being integral to optimizing the scale and scope of impact of distributed community health and social care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Bond
- Inner City Health Associates, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Chan B, Edwards ST, Srikanth P, Mitchell M, Devoe M, Nicolaidis C, Kansagara D, Korthuis PT, Solotaroff R, Saha S. Ambulatory Intensive Care for Medically Complex Patients at a Health Care Clinic for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness: The SUMMIT Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2342012. [PMID: 37948081 PMCID: PMC10638646 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.42012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Intensive primary care interventions have been promoted to reduce hospitalization rates and improve health outcomes for medically complex patients, but evidence of their efficacy is limited. Objective To assess the efficacy of a multidisciplinary ambulatory intensive care unit (A-ICU) intervention on health care utilization and patient-reported outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants The Streamlined Unified Meaningfully Managed Interdisciplinary Team (SUMMIT) randomized clinical trial used a wait-list control design and was conducted at a health care clinic for patients experiencing homelessness in Portland, Oregon. The first patient was enrolled in August 2016, and the last patient was enrolled in November 2019. Included patients had 1 or more hospitalizations in the prior 6 months and 2 or more chronic medical conditions, substance use disorder, or mental illness. Data analysis was performed between March and May 2021. Intervention The A-ICU included a team manager, a pharmacist, a nurse, care coordinators, social workers, and physicians. Activities included comprehensive 90-minute intake, transitional care coordination, and flexible appointments, with reduced panel size. Enhanced usual care (EUC), consisting of team-based primary care with access to community health workers and mental health, addiction treatment, and pharmacy services, served as the comparator. Participants who received EUC joined the A-ICU intervention after 6 months. Main Outcomes and Measures The main outcome was the difference in rates of hospitalization (primary outcome), emergency department (ED) visits, and primary care physician (PCP) visits per person over 6 months (vs the prior 6 months). Patient-reported outcomes included changes in patient activation, experience, health-related quality of life, and self-rated health at 6 months (vs baseline). We performed an intention-to-treat analysis using a linear mixed-effects model with a random intercept for each patient to examine the association between study group and outcomes. Results This study randomized 159 participants (mean [SD] age, 54.9 [9.8] years) to the A-ICU SUMMIT intervention (n = 80) or to EUC (n = 79). The majority of participants were men (102 [65.8%]) and most were White (121 [76.1%]). A total of 64 participants (41.0%) reported having unstable housing at baseline. Six-month hospitalizations decreased in both the A-ICU and EUC groups, with no difference between them (mean [SE], -0.6 [0.5] vs -0.9 [0.5]; difference, 0.3 [95% CI, -1.0 to 1.5]). Emergency department use did not differ between groups (mean [SE], -2.0 [1.0] vs 0.9 [1.0] visits per person; difference, -1.1 [95% CI, -3.7 to 1.6]). Primary care physician visits increased in the A-ICU group (mean [SE], 4.2 [1.6] vs -2.0 [1.6] per person; difference, 6.1 [95% CI, 1.8 to 10.4]). Patients in the A-ICU group reported improved social functioning (mean [SE], 4.7 [2.0] vs -1.1 [2.0]; difference, 5.8 [95% CI, 0.3 to 11.2]) and self-rated health (mean [SE], 0.7 [0.3] vs -0.2 [0.3]; difference, 1.0 [95% CI, 0.1 to 1.8]) compared with patients in the EUC group. No differences in patient activation or experience were observed. Conclusions and Relevance The A-ICU intervention did not change hospital or ED utilization at 6 months but increased PCP visits and improved patient well-being. Longer-term studies are needed to evaluate whether these observed improvements lead to eventual changes in acute care utilization. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03224858.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian Chan
- Section of Addiction Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland
- Central City Concern, Portland, Oregon
| | - Samuel T. Edwards
- Section of Addiction Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland
- Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care, Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon
| | - Priya Srikanth
- Biostatistics Design Program, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland
| | | | - Meg Devoe
- Section of Addiction Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland
- Central City Concern, Portland, Oregon
| | - Christina Nicolaidis
- Section of Addiction Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland
- School of Social Work, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Devan Kansagara
- Section of Addiction Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland
- Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care, Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon
| | - P. Todd Korthuis
- Section of Addiction Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland
- School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University–Portland State University, Portland
| | | | - Somnath Saha
- Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care, Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Shade K, Hidalgo P, Arteaga M, Rowland J, Huang W. Intensive Case Management to Reduce Hospital Readmissions: A Pilot Quality Improvement Project. Prof Case Manag 2023; 28:271-279. [PMID: 37787704 DOI: 10.1097/ncm.0000000000000645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF STUDY Hospital readmissions burden the U.S. health care system, and they have negative effects on patients and their families. The primary aim of this study was to pilot an intensive case management (ICM) intervention to reduce 30-day hospital readmissions. A secondary aim was to obtain patient- and caregiver-reported reasons for readmission. PRIMARY PRACTICE SETTING The setting was a vertically integrated health care system located in Northern California. METHODOLOGY AND SAMPLE This pilot quality improvement project occurred over a 4-month period. The intervention was delivered by master's degree students in nurse case management through an academic-clinical partnership. Patients hospitalized with a 30-day readmission were offered the ICM intervention. A total of 36 patients were identified and 20 accepted. Patient and/or caregiver was interviewed to identify reasons for their readmission. Data were collected about pre-/post-health care utilization including subsequent 30-day readmission. Mixed methods were used to analyze the findings. RESULTS Thirteen of 20 enrolled patients received the weekly ICM intervention for at least 30 days. Seven declined further contact before 30 days. Patient-reported reasons for readmission included being discharged too soon, poor communication among providers and with patients/families, lack of understanding about disease management and/or treatment options, and inadequate support. Several patients believed that their readmission was unavoidable due to the complexity of their illnesses. We compared 30-day readmissions for those who participated in and those who declined the ICM intervention, finding that those who received the ICM intervention had a lower readmission rate than those who did not receive the intervention (35% vs. 37.5%).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kate Shade
- Kate Shade, PhD, RN , is an assistant professor at Cal State East Bay and an adjunct associate professor at Samuel Merritt University. Dr. Shade has experience in public health case management and program evaluation. She has conducted research with youth involved in the juvenile justice system
- Paulina Hidalgo, MSN, RN , is a nurse case manager at Stanford Healthcare and graduated with a master of science in nursing, case management from Samuel Merritt University in December 2021
- Manuel Arteaga, MSN, RN , is a pediatric nurse case manager at UCSF/Benioff Children's Hospitals and serves on the board of a federally qualified health center in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mr. Arteaga has experience as a case manager with the department of child support services and graduated with a master of science in nursing, case management from Samuel Merritt University in December 2021
- Janet Rowland, EdD, MSN, RN-BC, ACM-RN , is the assistant director of the case management program and an assistant professor at Samuel Merritt University. She holds certifications in case management from the ANCC and the ACMA. She has worked for over 25 years in care coordination and public health nursing and previously served in the US Army Nurse Corps
- Winnie Huang, MSN, RN, PHN , is currently working as an RN case manager at Northern California outside utilization review services with Kaiser Permanente. She has experience in clinical case management including leadership and education roles in various organizations
| | - Paulina Hidalgo
- Kate Shade, PhD, RN , is an assistant professor at Cal State East Bay and an adjunct associate professor at Samuel Merritt University. Dr. Shade has experience in public health case management and program evaluation. She has conducted research with youth involved in the juvenile justice system
- Paulina Hidalgo, MSN, RN , is a nurse case manager at Stanford Healthcare and graduated with a master of science in nursing, case management from Samuel Merritt University in December 2021
- Manuel Arteaga, MSN, RN , is a pediatric nurse case manager at UCSF/Benioff Children's Hospitals and serves on the board of a federally qualified health center in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mr. Arteaga has experience as a case manager with the department of child support services and graduated with a master of science in nursing, case management from Samuel Merritt University in December 2021
- Janet Rowland, EdD, MSN, RN-BC, ACM-RN , is the assistant director of the case management program and an assistant professor at Samuel Merritt University. She holds certifications in case management from the ANCC and the ACMA. She has worked for over 25 years in care coordination and public health nursing and previously served in the US Army Nurse Corps
- Winnie Huang, MSN, RN, PHN , is currently working as an RN case manager at Northern California outside utilization review services with Kaiser Permanente. She has experience in clinical case management including leadership and education roles in various organizations
| | - Manuel Arteaga
- Kate Shade, PhD, RN , is an assistant professor at Cal State East Bay and an adjunct associate professor at Samuel Merritt University. Dr. Shade has experience in public health case management and program evaluation. She has conducted research with youth involved in the juvenile justice system
- Paulina Hidalgo, MSN, RN , is a nurse case manager at Stanford Healthcare and graduated with a master of science in nursing, case management from Samuel Merritt University in December 2021
- Manuel Arteaga, MSN, RN , is a pediatric nurse case manager at UCSF/Benioff Children's Hospitals and serves on the board of a federally qualified health center in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mr. Arteaga has experience as a case manager with the department of child support services and graduated with a master of science in nursing, case management from Samuel Merritt University in December 2021
- Janet Rowland, EdD, MSN, RN-BC, ACM-RN , is the assistant director of the case management program and an assistant professor at Samuel Merritt University. She holds certifications in case management from the ANCC and the ACMA. She has worked for over 25 years in care coordination and public health nursing and previously served in the US Army Nurse Corps
- Winnie Huang, MSN, RN, PHN , is currently working as an RN case manager at Northern California outside utilization review services with Kaiser Permanente. She has experience in clinical case management including leadership and education roles in various organizations
| | - Janet Rowland
- Kate Shade, PhD, RN , is an assistant professor at Cal State East Bay and an adjunct associate professor at Samuel Merritt University. Dr. Shade has experience in public health case management and program evaluation. She has conducted research with youth involved in the juvenile justice system
- Paulina Hidalgo, MSN, RN , is a nurse case manager at Stanford Healthcare and graduated with a master of science in nursing, case management from Samuel Merritt University in December 2021
- Manuel Arteaga, MSN, RN , is a pediatric nurse case manager at UCSF/Benioff Children's Hospitals and serves on the board of a federally qualified health center in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mr. Arteaga has experience as a case manager with the department of child support services and graduated with a master of science in nursing, case management from Samuel Merritt University in December 2021
- Janet Rowland, EdD, MSN, RN-BC, ACM-RN , is the assistant director of the case management program and an assistant professor at Samuel Merritt University. She holds certifications in case management from the ANCC and the ACMA. She has worked for over 25 years in care coordination and public health nursing and previously served in the US Army Nurse Corps
- Winnie Huang, MSN, RN, PHN , is currently working as an RN case manager at Northern California outside utilization review services with Kaiser Permanente. She has experience in clinical case management including leadership and education roles in various organizations
| | - Winnie Huang
- Kate Shade, PhD, RN , is an assistant professor at Cal State East Bay and an adjunct associate professor at Samuel Merritt University. Dr. Shade has experience in public health case management and program evaluation. She has conducted research with youth involved in the juvenile justice system
- Paulina Hidalgo, MSN, RN , is a nurse case manager at Stanford Healthcare and graduated with a master of science in nursing, case management from Samuel Merritt University in December 2021
- Manuel Arteaga, MSN, RN , is a pediatric nurse case manager at UCSF/Benioff Children's Hospitals and serves on the board of a federally qualified health center in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mr. Arteaga has experience as a case manager with the department of child support services and graduated with a master of science in nursing, case management from Samuel Merritt University in December 2021
- Janet Rowland, EdD, MSN, RN-BC, ACM-RN , is the assistant director of the case management program and an assistant professor at Samuel Merritt University. She holds certifications in case management from the ANCC and the ACMA. She has worked for over 25 years in care coordination and public health nursing and previously served in the US Army Nurse Corps
- Winnie Huang, MSN, RN, PHN , is currently working as an RN case manager at Northern California outside utilization review services with Kaiser Permanente. She has experience in clinical case management including leadership and education roles in various organizations
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Klein S, Eaton KP, Bodnar BE, Keller SC, Helgerson P, Parsons AS. Transforming Health Care from Volume to Value: Leveraging Care Coordination Across the Continuum. Am J Med 2023; 136:985-990. [PMID: 37481020 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2023.06.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Klein
- Department of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York
| | - Kevin P Eaton
- Department of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, Brooklyn
| | - Benjamin E Bodnar
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md
| | - Sara C Keller
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md
| | - Paul Helgerson
- Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville
| | - Andrew S Parsons
- Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Knox M, Hernandez EA, Brown DM, Ahern J, Fleming MD, Guo C, Brewster AL. Greater Covid-19 vaccine uptake among enrollees offered health and social needs case management: Results from a randomized trial. Health Serv Res 2023. [PMID: 37775953 DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.14229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/01/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate Covid-19 vaccination as a potential secondary public health benefit of case management for Medicaid beneficiaries with health and social needs. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SETTING The CommunityConnect case management program for Medicaid beneficiaries is run by Contra Costa Health, a county safety net health system in California. Program enrollment data were merged with comprehensive county vaccination records. STUDY DESIGN Individuals with elevated risk of hospital and emergency department use were randomized each month to a case management intervention or usual care. Interdisciplinary case managers offered coaching, community referrals, healthcare connections, and other support based on enrollee interest and need. Using survival analysis with intent-to-treat assignment, we assessed rates of first-dose Covid-19 vaccination from December 2020 to September 2021. In exploratory sub-analyses we also examined effect heterogeneity by gender, race/ethnicity, age, and primary language. DATA COLLECTION AND EXTRACTION METHODS Data were extracted from county and program records as of September 2021, totaling 12,866 interventions and 25,761 control enrollments. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Approximately 58% of enrollees were female and 41% were under age 35. Enrollees were 23% White, 12% Asian/Pacific Islander, 20% Black/African American, and 36% Hispanic/Latino, and 10% other/unknown. Approximately 35% of the intervention group engaged with their case manager. Approximately 56% of all intervention and control enrollees were vaccinated after 9 months of analysis time. Intervention enrollees had a higher vaccination rate compared to control enrollees (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-1.10). In sub-analyses, the intervention was associated with stronger likelihood of vaccination among males and individuals under age 35. CONCLUSIONS Case management infrastructure modestly improved Covid-19 vaccine uptake in a population of Medicaid beneficiaries that over-represents social groups with barriers to early Covid-19 vaccination. Amidst mixed evidence on vaccination-specific incentives, leveraging trusted case managers and existing case management programs may be a valuable prevention strategy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Margae Knox
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | | | | | - Jennifer Ahern
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Mark D Fleming
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Crystal Guo
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Amanda L Brewster
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Anderson AJ, Noyes K, Hewner S. Expanding the evidence for cross-sector collaboration in implementation science: creating a collaborative, cross-sector, interagency, multidisciplinary team to serve patients experiencing homelessness and medical complexity at hospital discharge. FRONTIERS IN HEALTH SERVICES 2023; 3:1124054. [PMID: 37744643 PMCID: PMC10515621 DOI: 10.3389/frhs.2023.1124054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Patients with medical and social complexity require care administered through cross-sector collaboration (CSC). Due to organizational complexity, biomedical emphasis, and exacerbated needs of patient populations, interventions requiring CSC prove challenging to implement and study. This report discusses challenges and provides strategies for implementation of CSC through a collaborative, cross-sector, interagency, multidisciplinary team model. Methods A collaborative, cross-sector, interagency, multidisciplinary team was formed called the Buffalo City Mission Recuperative Care Collaborative (RCU Collaborative), in Buffalo, NY, to provide care transition support for people experiencing homelessness at acute care hospital discharge through a medical respite program. Utilizing the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) framework and feedback from cross-sector collaborative team, implementation strategies were drawn from three validated ERIC implementation strategy clusters: 1) Develop stakeholder relationships; 2) Use evaluative and iterative strategies; 3) Change infrastructure. Results Stakeholders identified the following factors as the main barriers: organizational culture clash, disparate visions, and workforce challenges related to COVID-19. Identified facilitators were clear group composition, clinical academic partnerships, and strategic linkages to acute care hospitals. Discussion A CSC interagency multidisciplinary team can facilitate complex care delivery for high-risk populations, such as medical respite care. Implementation planning is critically important when crossing agency boundaries for new multidisciplinary program development. Insights from this project can help to identify and minimize barriers and optimize utilization of facilitators, such as academic partners. Future research will address external organizational influences and emphasize CSC as central to interventions, not simply a domain to consider during implementation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Joy Anderson
- School of Nursing, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Katia Noyes
- Division of Health Services Policy and Practice, Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Sharon Hewner
- School of Nursing, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Yang Q, Wiest D, Davis AC, Truchil A, Adams JL. Hospital Readmissions by Variation in Engagement in the Health Care Hotspotting Trial: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2332715. [PMID: 37698862 PMCID: PMC10498327 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.32715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Variability in intervention participation within care management programs can complicate standard analysis strategies. Objective To evaluate whether care management was associated with reduced hospital readmissions among individuals with higher participation probabilities. Design, Setting, and Participants A total of 800 hospitalized patients aged 18 years and older were randomized as part of the Health Care Hotspotting randomized clinical trial, which was conducted in Camden, New Jersey, from June 2014 to September 2017. Data were collected through October 2018. In this new analysis performed between April 6, 2022, and April 23, 2023, the distillation method was applied to account for variable intervention participation. A gradient-boosting machine learning model produced predicted probabilities of engaged participation using baseline covariates only. Predicted probabilities were used to trim both intervention and control populations in an equivalent manner, and intervention effects were reevaluated within study population subsets that were increasingly concentrated with patients having higher participation probabilities. Patients had 2 or more hospitalizations in the 6-month preenrollment period and documented evidence of chronic illness and social complexity. Intervention Multidisciplinary teams provided services to patients in the intervention arm for a mean 120 days after hospital discharge. Patients in the control group received usual postdischarge care. Main Outcomes and Measures Hospital readmission rates and counts 30, 90, and 180 days postdischarge. Results Of 800 eligible patients, 782 had complete discharge information and were included in this analysis (mean [SD] age, 56.6 [12.7] years; 395 [50.5%] female). In the intent-to-treat analysis, the unadjusted 180-day readmission rate for treatment and control groups was 60.1% vs 61.7% (adjusted odds ratio, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.71-1.28; P = .73) and the mean (SD) number of 180-day readmissions was 1.45 (1.89) vs 1.48 (1.94) (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 0.99, 95% CI, 0.88-1.12; P = .86). Among the population with the highest participation probabilities, the mean (SD) 180-day readmission count was 1.22 (1.74) vs 1.57 (1.74) and the incidence rate ratio attained statistical significance (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.56-0.99; P = .045). Adjusted odds ratios and adjusted incidence rate ratios for 30- and 90-day outcomes reached statistical significance after population distillation. Conclusions and Relevance This secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial found that care management was associated with reduced readmissions among patients with higher participation probabilities, suggesting that program operation could be improved by addressing barriers to participation and refining inclusion criteria to identify patients most likely to benefit. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02090426.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Anna C. Davis
- Center for Effectiveness and Safety Research, Kaiser Permanente, Pasadena, California
- Department of Health Systems Science, Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, Pasadena, California
| | | | - John L. Adams
- Center for Effectiveness and Safety Research, Kaiser Permanente, Pasadena, California
- Department of Health Systems Science, Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, Pasadena, California
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Wetzler S, Counts N, Schwartz B, Patel U, Holcombe S. Impact of New York State's Health Home Model on Health Care Utilization. Psychiatr Serv 2023; 74:1002-1005. [PMID: 36916062 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.20220264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
The Affordable Care Act established Medicaid health homes to provide care management and coordination for high-need individuals, including many with serious mental illness. The authors used data from the Medicaid Data Warehouse to examine health care utilization over 3 years among 10,193 individuals who enrolled in a New York State health home and had at least one outpatient mental health visit during the year prior to enrollment. Results for postenrollment year 2 indicated a 43% decrease in inpatient mental health discharges, a 38% decrease in substance use discharges, and a 7% reduction in general medical discharges, whereas mental health outpatient treatment and behavioral and nonbehavioral medication utilization increased. Further research is needed to determine the effectiveness of health home care management for individuals with serious mental illness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Scott Wetzler
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Wetzler, Counts, Schwartz) and Department of Social and Family Medicine (Patel), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City; National Council for Mental Wellbeing, Washington, D.C. (Holcombe)
| | - Nathaniel Counts
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Wetzler, Counts, Schwartz) and Department of Social and Family Medicine (Patel), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City; National Council for Mental Wellbeing, Washington, D.C. (Holcombe)
| | - Bruce Schwartz
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Wetzler, Counts, Schwartz) and Department of Social and Family Medicine (Patel), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City; National Council for Mental Wellbeing, Washington, D.C. (Holcombe)
| | - Urvashi Patel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Wetzler, Counts, Schwartz) and Department of Social and Family Medicine (Patel), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City; National Council for Mental Wellbeing, Washington, D.C. (Holcombe)
| | - Samantha Holcombe
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Wetzler, Counts, Schwartz) and Department of Social and Family Medicine (Patel), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City; National Council for Mental Wellbeing, Washington, D.C. (Holcombe)
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Swan BA, Giordano NA. Addressing Nursing Students' Understanding of Health Equity and Social Determinants of Health: An Innovative Teaching-Learning Strategy. Nurs Educ Perspect 2023; 44:318-320. [PMID: 37594430 PMCID: PMC10453340 DOI: 10.1097/01.nep.0000000000001182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Immersive learning opportunities across care settings enhance nursing students' understanding of the environmental, social, cultural, and policy factors that influence patients' health (e.g., social determinants of health) and care utilization. Hotspotting happens when care teams visit patients with frequent hospital admissions to coordinate outpatient care. However, geographic limitations may inhibit the delivery of hotspotting learning opportunities available to students. Delivering immersive hotspotting opportunities over virtual reality helps to overcome this barrier. This overview summarizes the design and implementation of a virtual reality hotspotting experience designed to aid students in understanding the impact of social determinants of health on care transitions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Beth Ann Swan
- About the Authors The authors are faculty at the Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Atlanta, Georgia. Beth Ann Swan, PhD, RN, FAAN, is Charles F. and Peggy Evans Endowed Distinguished Professor for Simulation and Innovation. Nicholas A. Giordano, PhD, RN, is an assistant professor. This work was supported by a grant from the Woodruff Fund, Inc. For more information, contact Dr. Swan at
| | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Brenner J. Lessons Learned from the Camden Coalition's Work with High Needs, High Complexity Patients. Popul Health Manag 2023; 26:227-229. [PMID: 37590064 DOI: 10.1089/pop.2023.0155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers built a nationally recognized model of intensive care coordination for high needs, high complexity patients. The model was tested using a randomized controlled trial, which showed no impact on hospital and emergency room utilization. This was a surprising result at the time. The negative results may have been due to several factors including untreated and unresolved early life trauma, lack of access to appropriately trained local services, and incorrect diagnosis and treatments within the health care field. Integration of high-quality primary care services within the mental health and social service field may be a more effective solution than coordination between services.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Brenner
- Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services, New York, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Wang P, Vienneau M, Vogeli C, Schiavoni K, Jubelt L, Mendu ML. Reframing Value-Based Care Management: Beyond Cost Reduction and Toward Patient Centeredness. JAMA HEALTH FORUM 2023; 4:e231502. [PMID: 37327007 DOI: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2023.1502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Care management programs are increasingly being utilized by health systems as a new foundational strategy to advance value-based care. These programs offer the promise of improving patient outcomes while decreasing health care utilization and costs. However, as these programs proliferate in number and specialization, the field of care management is increasingly at risk of fragmentation, inefficiency, and failure to meet the core needs of the patient. Observations This review of the current state of care management identifies several key challenges for the field, including an unclear value proposition, a focus on system- vs patient-centered outcomes, increased specialization by private and public entrants that produces care fragmentation, and lack of coordination among health and social service entities. A framework is proposed for reorienting care management to truly address the needs of patients through acknowledging the dynamic nature of patient care needs, providing a continuum of need-targeted programming, coordinating care among all involved entities and staff, and performing regular evaluations of outcomes that include patient-centered and health equity measures. Guidance on how this framework can be implemented within a health system and an outline of recommendations is provided for how policymakers may incentivize the development of high value and more equitable care management programs. Conclusions and Relevance With increased focus on care management as a cornerstone of value-based care, value-based health leaders and policymakers can improve the effectiveness and value of care management programs, reduce patient financial burden for care management services, and promote stakeholder coordination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Priscilla Wang
- Population Health Management, Mass General Brigham, Boston, Massachusetts
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Maryann Vienneau
- Population Health Management, Mass General Brigham, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Christine Vogeli
- Mongan Institute Health Policy Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Katherine Schiavoni
- Population Health Management, Mass General Brigham, Boston, Massachusetts
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Lindsay Jubelt
- Population Health Management, Mass General Brigham, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Mallika L Mendu
- Office of the Chief Medical Officer, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Chu CD, Tuot DS, Tummalapalli SL. Kidney Function Trajectories and Health Care Costs: Identifying High-Need, High-Cost Patients. Kidney Med 2023; 5:100664. [PMID: 37250504 PMCID: PMC10209529 DOI: 10.1016/j.xkme.2023.100664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Chi D. Chu
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California
- Department of Medicine, Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, California
- Kidney Health Research Collaborative, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California and San Francisco VA Health Care System, San Francisco, California
- Division of Nephrology, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, California
| | - Delphine S. Tuot
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California
- Department of Medicine, Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, California
- Division of Nephrology, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, California
| | - Sri Lekha Tummalapalli
- Kidney Health Research Collaborative, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California and San Francisco VA Health Care System, San Francisco, California
- Division of Healthcare Delivery Science & Innovation, Department of Population Health Sciences, and Division of Nephrology & Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
- The Rogosin Institute, New York, New York
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
IOTT BRADLEY, ANTHONY DENISE. Provision of Social Care Services by US Hospitals. Milbank Q 2023; 101:601-635. [PMID: 37098719 PMCID: PMC10262385 DOI: 10.1111/1468-0009.12653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Policy Points Hospitals address population health needs and patients' social determinants of health by offering social care services. Tax-exempt hospitals are required to invest in community benefits, including social care services programs, though most community benefits spending is toward unreimbursed health care services. Tax-exempt hospitals offer about 36% more social care services than for-profit hospitals. Among tax-exempt hospitals, those that allocate more resources to community benefits spending offer more types of social care services, but those in states with minimum community benefits spending requirements offer fewer social care services. Policymakers may consider specifically incentivizing community benefits expenditures toward particular social care services, including linking tax exemptions to implementation, utilization, and outcome targets, to more directly help patients. CONTEXT Despite growing interest in identifying patients' social needs, little is known about hospitals' provision of services to address them. We identify social care services offered by US hospitals and determine whether hospital spending or state policies toward community benefits are associated with the provision of these services by tax-exempt hospitals. METHODS National secondary data about hospitals were collected from the American Hospital Association Annual Survey, with additional Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 990 data on community benefits spending from CommunityBenefitInsight.org and state-level community benefits policies from HilltopInstitute.org. Descriptive statistics for types of social care services and hospital characteristics were calculated, with bivariate chi-square and t-tests comparing for-profit and tax-exempt hospitals. Multivariable Poisson regression was used to estimate associations between hospital characteristics and types of services offered and among tax-exempt hospitals to estimate associations between social care services and community benefits spending and policies. Multivariable logistic regressions modeled associations between community benefits spending/policies and each type of social care services. FINDINGS Private US hospitals offered an average of 5.7 types of social care services in 2018. Tax-exempt hospitals offered about 36% more social care services than for-profit hospitals. Larger number of beds, health system affiliation, and having community partnerships are associated with more social care services, whereas rural hospitals and those managed under contract offered fewer social care services. Among tax-exempt hospitals, greater community benefits spending is associated with offering more total (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.10, p < 0.01) and patient-focused social care services (IRR = 1.16, p < 0.01). Hospitals in states with minimum community benefits spending requirements offered significantly fewer social care services. CONCLUSIONS Although tax-exempt status and increased community benefits spending were associated with increased social care services provision, the observation that certain hospital characteristics and state minimum community benefits spending requirements were associated with fewer social care services suggests opportunities for policy reform to increase social care services implementation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- BRADLEY IOTT
- University of Michigan School of Public Health
- University of California, San Francisco
| | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Renaud J, McClellan SR, DePriest K, Witgert K, O'Connor S, Abowd Johnson K, Barolin N, Gottlieb LM, De Marchis EH, Rojas-Smith L, Haber SG. Addressing Health-Related Social Needs Via Community Resources: Lessons From Accountable Health Communities. Health Aff (Millwood) 2023:101377hlthaff202201507. [PMID: 37196207 DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2022.01507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation launched the Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Model in 2017 to assess whether identifying and addressing Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries' health-related social needs reduced health care use and spending. We surveyed a subset of AHC Model beneficiaries with one or more health-related social needs and two or more emergency department visits in the prior twelve months to assess their use of community services and whether their needs were resolved. Survey findings indicated that navigation-connecting eligible patients with community services-did not significantly increase the rate of community service provider connections or the rate of needs resolution, relative to a randomized control group. Findings from interviews with AHC Model staff, community service providers, and beneficiaries identified challenges connecting beneficiaries to community services. When connections were made, resources often were insufficient to resolve beneficiaries' needs. For navigation to be successful, investments in additional resources to assist beneficiaries in their communities may be required.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Shannon O'Connor
- Shannon O'Connor, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | | | - Laura M Gottlieb
- Laura M. Gottlieb, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | | | | | - Susan G Haber
- Susan G. Haber, RTI International, Waltham, Massachusetts
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Parish W, Beil H, He F, D'Arcangelo N, Romaire M, Rojas-Smith L, Haber SG. Health Care Impacts Of Resource Navigation For Health-Related Social Needs In The Accountable Health Communities Model. Health Aff (Millwood) 2023:101377hlthaff202201502. [PMID: 37196210 DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2022.01502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Social determinants of health can adversely affect health and therefore lead to poor health care outcomes. When it launched in 2017, the Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Model was at the forefront of US health policy initiatives seeking to address social determinants of health. The AHC Model, sponsored by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, screened Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries for health-related social needs and offered eligible beneficiaries assistance in connecting with community services. This study used data from the period 2015-21 to test whether the model had impacts on health care spending and use. Findings show statistically significant reductions in emergency department visits for both Medicaid and fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries. Impacts on other outcomes were not statistically significant, but low statistical power may have limited our ability to detect model effects. Interviews with AHC Model participants who were offered navigation services to help them find community-based resources suggested that navigation services could have directly affected the way in which beneficiaries engage with the health care system, leading them to be more proactive in seeking appropriate care. Collectively, findings provide mixed evidence that engaging with beneficiaries who have health-related social needs can affect health care outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William Parish
- William Parish , RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Heather Beil
- Heather Beil, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Fang He
- Fang He, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Noah D'Arcangelo
- Noah D'Arcangelo, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Melissa Romaire
- Melissa Romaire, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | | | - Susan G Haber
- Susan G. Haber, RTI International, Waltham, Massachusetts
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Brijmohan S, Jacome VR, Samuel M, Varona C, Yanowitz J, Patel D, Rastogi N. Health E Englewood Health and Wellness Program: A Social Determinants of Health Intervention in Englewood, New Jersey. Cureus 2023; 15:e39646. [PMID: 37388579 PMCID: PMC10306252 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.39646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Health E Englewood Health and Wellness Program is a social determinant of health (SDoH) intervention developed to address social factors affecting the health of the North Hudson Community Action Corporation (NHCAC) patients', a Federally Qualified Health Center located in Englewood, New Jersey. The main aim of this integrated wellness approach was to educate and motivate participants from the local community by strengthening the development of healthy lifestyles and providing the necessary tools for positive behavior change. METHODS Health E Englewood was a four consecutive week workshop series focused on three areas of health: physical, emotional, and nutritional wellness. The program targeted Spanish-speaking patients from NHCAC and was offered virtually via Zoom in Spanish. RESULTS The Health E Englewood program was launched in October 2021 with 40 active participants. About 63% of participants attended at least three of the four workshop sessions, with at least 60% of participants reporting improved lifestyle changes after the program. Additional follow-up data collected six months later also indicated evidence of the program's long-term benefits. DISCUSSION Social factors are the primary drivers of health outcomes. While many determinant interventions have failed to show long-lasting benefits, studying these interventions and their impact is crucial as it avoids "re-creating the wheel" inside health care and increasing costs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Cindy Varona
- Public Health, Englewood Hospital, Englewood, USA
| | | | - Dipal Patel
- Internal Medicine, Engelwood Hospital, Englewood, USA
| | - Natasha Rastogi
- Internal Medicine, Englewood Health and Medical Center, Englewood, USA
- Internal Medicine, Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, Englewood, USA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Vogt RL, Heck PR, Mestechkin RM, Heydari P, Chabris CF, Meyer MN. Experiment aversion among clinicians and the public - an obstacle to evidence-based medicine and public health. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.04.05.23288189. [PMID: 37066423 PMCID: PMC10104223 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.05.23288189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
Background Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are essential for determining the safety and efficacy of healthcare interventions. However, both laypeople and clinicians often demonstrate experiment aversion: preferring to implement either of two interventions for everyone rather than comparing them to determine which is best. We studied whether clinician and layperson views of pragmatic RCTs for Covid-19 or other interventions became more positive early in the pandemic, which increased both the urgency and public discussion of RCTs. Methods We conducted several survey studies with laypeople (total n=2,909) and two with clinicians (n=895; n=1,254) in 2020 and 2021. Participants read vignettes in which a hypothetical decision-maker who sought to improve health could choose to implement intervention A for all, implement intervention B for all, or experimentally compare A and B and implement the superior intervention. Participants rated and ranked the appropriateness of each decision. Results Compared to our pre-pandemic results, we found no decrease in laypeople's aversion to non-Covid-19 experiments involving catheterization checklists and hypertension drugs. Nor were either laypeople or clinicians less averse to Covid-19 RCTs (concerning corticosteroid drugs, vaccines, intubation checklists, proning, school reopening, and mask protocols), on average. Across all vignettes and samples, levels of experiment aversion ranged from 28% to 57%, while levels of experiment appreciation (in which the RCT is rated higher than the participant's highest-rated intervention) ranged from only 6% to 35%. Conclusions Advancing evidence-based medicine through pragmatic RCTs will require anticipating and addressing experiment aversion among both patients and healthcare professionals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Randi L. Vogt
- Department of Bioethics & Decision Sciences, Geisinger
| | | | | | - Pedram Heydari
- Department of Bioethics & Decision Sciences, Geisinger
- Department of Economics, University of Pittsburgh
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Zhou JG, Cameron PA, Dipnall JF, Shih K, Cheng I. Using network analyses to characterise Australian and Canadian frequent attenders to the emergency department. Emerg Med Australas 2023; 35:225-233. [PMID: 36216495 DOI: 10.1111/1742-6723.14103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore and compare the characteristics of frequent attenders to the ED at an Australian and a Canadian tertiary hospitals by utilising a network analysis approach. METHODS We conducted a retrospective population-based study using administrative data over the 2018 and 2019 calendar years. Participants were from a tertiary hospital in Melbourne, Australia, and Toronto, Canada. Frequent attenders were defined as patients with four or more visits in 12 months. Characteristics of younger (18-39 years), middle-aged (40-69 years) and older (70 years and older) frequent attenders were described using descriptive statistics and network analyses. RESULTS Younger frequent attenders were characterised by mental illness and substance use, while older frequent attenders had high rates of physical (including chronic) diseases. Middle-aged frequent attenders were characterised by a combination of mental and physical illnesses. These findings were observed at both hospitals. Across all age groups, the network analyses between the Melbourne and Toronto hospitals were different. Among older frequent attender visits, more diagnoses were associated with high triage acuity at the Toronto hospital than at the Melbourne hospital. Some associations were similar at both sites, for example, the negative correlation between high triage acuity and joint pain. CONCLUSION Younger, middle-aged and older frequent attenders have distinct characteristics, made readily apparent by using network analyses. Future interventions to reduce ED visits should consider the heterogeneity of frequent attenders who have needs specific to their age, presenting problems and jurisdiction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan G Zhou
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Peter A Cameron
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- The Alfred Emergency and Trauma Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Joanna F Dipnall
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kingsley Shih
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ivy Cheng
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Emergency Services, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Walsh DW. Letter to the Editor in Response to: An Intensive Intervention to Reduce Readmissions for Frequently Hospitalized Patients: the CHAMP Randomized Control Trial. J Gen Intern Med 2023; 38:1307-1308. [PMID: 36749432 PMCID: PMC10110772 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-023-08053-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- David W Walsh
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Valente J, Bundy R, Martin M, Palakshappa D, Dharod A, Rominger R, Feiereisel K. Evaluation of "Care Plus," A Multidisciplinary Program to Improve Population Health for Patients With High Utilization. JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT AND PRACTICE 2023; 29:226-229. [PMID: 36715596 PMCID: PMC9896568 DOI: 10.1097/phh.0000000000001692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
With rising health care costs, health systems have adopted alternative care models targeting high-need, high-cost patients to improve chronic disease management and population health. Intensive primary care teams may reduce health care utilization by tackling medical and psychosocial needs specific to this patient population. This study presents health care utilization trends from a high-intensity primary care program that employs a multidisciplinary team (including clinicians, psychologists, pharmacists, chaplaincy, and community health workers) and community partnerships. Using descriptive statistics and Poisson rates of differences, this study evaluates patient and utilization characteristics of those enrolled (n = 341) versus declined (n = 54) program participation from 2013 to 2020. Both enrolled and declined patients experienced significant reduction in emergency department and inpatient utilization, but differences between enrolled and declined patients were not statistically significant. Programs aimed at decreasing health care utilization for high-need, high-cost, medically complex patients may be best supported by interventions that simultaneously address social and behavioral health needs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Valente
- Section of General Internal Medicine (Drs Valente, Martin, Palakshappa, Dharod, Rominger, and Feiereisel) and Informatics and Analytics (Ms Bundy and Dr Dharod), Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
Swankoski KE, Reddy A, Grembowski D, Chang ET, Wong ES. Intensive care management for high-risk veterans in a patient-centered medical home - do some veterans benefit more than others? HEALTHCARE (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2023; 11:100677. [PMID: 36764053 DOI: 10.1016/j.hjdsi.2023.100677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Primary care intensive management programs utilize interdisciplinary care teams to comprehensively meet the complex care needs of patients at high risk for hospitalization. The mixed evidence on the effectiveness of these programs focuses on average treatment effects that may mask heterogeneous treatment effects (HTEs) among subgroups of patients. We test for HTEs by patients' demographic, economic, and social characteristics. METHODS Retrospective analysis of a VA randomized quality improvement trial. 3995 primary care patients at high risk for hospitalization were randomized to primary care intensive management (n = 1761) or usual primary care (n = 1731). We estimated HTEs on ED and hospital utilization one year after randomization using model-based recursive partitioning and a pre-versus post-with control group framework. Splitting variables included administratively collected demographic characteristics, travel distance, copay exemption, risk score for future hospitalizations, history of hospital discharge against medical advice, homelessness, and multiple residence ZIP codes. RESULTS There were no average or heterogeneous treatment effects of intensive management one year after enrollment. The recursive partitioning algorithm identified variation in effects by risk score, homelessness, and whether the patient had multiple residences in a year. Within each distinct subgroup, the effect of intensive management was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Primary care intensive management did not affect acute care use of high-risk patients on average or differentially for patients defined by various demographic, economic, and social characteristics. IMPLICATIONS Reducing acute care use for high-risk patients is complex, and more work is required to identify patients positioned to benefit from intensive management programs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kaylyn E Swankoski
- Department of Health Systems and Population Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value- Driven Care, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Ashok Reddy
- Department of Health Systems and Population Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value- Driven Care, Seattle, WA, USA; Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - David Grembowski
- Department of Health Systems and Population Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Evelyn T Chang
- VA Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation and Policy (CSHIIP), Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Medicine, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Medicine, Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Edwin S Wong
- Department of Health Systems and Population Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value- Driven Care, Seattle, WA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Blonigen D, Hyde J, McInnes DK, Yoon J, Byrne T, Ngo T, Smelson D. Integrating data analytics, peer support, and whole health coaching to improve the health outcomes of homeless veterans: Study protocol for an effectiveness-implementation trial. Contemp Clin Trials 2023; 125:107065. [PMID: 36572239 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2022.107065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Homelessness is a strong determinant of acute care service utilization (inpatient hospitalization, emergency department visits) among US adults. Data analytics, peer support, and patient-centered approaches can collectively offer high-quality care for homeless patients who frequently utilize acute care ("super utilizers"). However, few outpatient programs have integrated these components and tested their effectiveness for this patient population. OBJECTIVE To test the effectiveness and implementation potential of a novel intervention that integrates data analytics with peers trained in whole health coaching ("Peer Whole Health") to reduce use of acute care among homeless adults. METHODS Using a randomized controlled trial design at two US Veterans Health Administration Medical Centers, we plan to enroll 220 veterans in primary care on VHA's Homeless Registry who are flagged on a super-utilizer clinical dashboard. Participants will complete a baseline interview, be randomized to Enhanced Usual Care (EUC; primary care and data analytics) or EUC plus 18 sessions of Peer Whole Health over 6 months, and be re-interviewed at 3, 6, and 9 months. Qualitative interviews with primary care staff and patients will identify facilitators and barriers to more widespread implementation of the intervention. DISCUSSION The primary hypothesis is that those who receive the intervention will have fewer total days of all-cause hospitalization. If confirmed, the findings can provide healthcare systems that serve homeless super-utilizers with a high-value approach to care that can be integrated into primary care services and reduce overall costs for these patients. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05176977).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Blonigen
- HSR&D Center for Innovation to Implementation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Justeen Hyde
- HSR&D Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, VA Bedford HealthCare System, Bedford, MA, USA; Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - D Keith McInnes
- HSR&D Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, VA Bedford HealthCare System, Bedford, MA, USA; Department of Health Law Policy and Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jean Yoon
- HSR&D Center for Innovation to Implementation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA; Health Economics Resource Center, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Thomas Byrne
- HSR&D Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, VA Bedford HealthCare System, Bedford, MA, USA
| | - Tu Ngo
- VA Bedford HealthCare System, Bedford, MA, USA
| | - David Smelson
- HSR&D Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, VA Bedford HealthCare System, Bedford, MA, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Tucher EL, McHugh JP, Thomas KS, Wallack AR, Meyers DJ. Evaluating a Care Management Program for Dual-Eligible Beneficiaries: Evidence from Rhode Island. Popul Health Manag 2023; 26:37-45. [PMID: 36745407 DOI: 10.1089/pop.2022.0236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
As health systems attempt to contain utilization and costs, care management programs are proliferating. However, there are mixed findings on their impact. In 2018, Rhode Island initiated a care management program for dually eligible Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries at high risk of hospitalization or institutionalization. The objective of this study is to evaluate the association between health care utilization and costs and care management for dual-eligible participants (n = 169). The authors employed an interrupted time series analysis of administrative claims data using the Rhode Island All Payer Claims Database, which includes data from all major payers in the state, for 11 quarters (January 1, 2017 until September 1, 2019). On average, participants were younger (46.2% were 19-64 years of age vs. 41.9% of non-participants), female (71% vs. 62.6% of non-participants), and had a higher comorbidity burden (more commonly had anemia, atrial fibrillation, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression, diabetes, heart failure, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and stroke). Participation was associated with significantly fewer hospital admissions (118 fewer admissions per 1000 admissions per quarter; 95% confidence interval [CI] -11 to -22), and a reduction in Medicaid ($1841 less spent per quarter, 95% CI -2407 to -1275) and total ($2570 less spent per quarter; 95% CI -$4645 to -$495) costs. Participation was not significantly associated with a change in Emergency Department (ED) visits, preventable ED visits, Skilled Nursing Facility stays, or Medicare costs. These results suggest that targeted care management programs may provide dual-eligible beneficiaries with needed services while diverting inefficient health care utilization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emma L Tucher
- Department of Health Services, Policy, and Practice, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - John P McHugh
- Department of Health Services, Policy, and Practice, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.,Department of Health Policy and Management, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, USA
| | - Kali S Thomas
- Department of Health Services, Policy, and Practice, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.,Center for Gerontology and Health Care Research, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.,Center of Innovation in Long Term Services and Supports, Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Anya R Wallack
- The University of Vermont Health Network, Burlington, Vermont, USA
| | - David J Meyers
- Department of Health Services, Policy, and Practice, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.,Center for Gerontology and Health Care Research, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Ricket IM, Matheny ME, MacKenzie TA, Emond JA, Ailawadi KL, Brown JR. Novel integration of governmental data sources using machine learning to identify super-utilization among U.S. counties. INTELLIGENCE-BASED MEDICINE 2023; 7:100093. [PMID: 37476591 PMCID: PMC10358365 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmed.2023.100093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Background Super-utilizers consume the greatest share of resource intensive healthcare (RIHC) and reducing their utilization remains a crucial challenge to healthcare systems in the United States (U.S.). The objective of this study was to predict RIHC among U.S. counties, using routinely collected data from the U.S. government, including information on consumer spending, offering an alternative method for identifying super-utilization among population units rather than individuals. Methods Cross-sectional data from 5 governmental sources in 2017 were used in a machine learning pipeline, where target-prediction features were selected and used in 4 distinct algorithms. Outcome metrics of RIHC utilization came from the American Hospital Association and included yearly: (1) emergency rooms visit, (2) inpatient days, and (3) hospital expenditures. Target-prediction features included: 149 demographic characteristics from the U.S. Census Bureau, 151 adult and child health characteristics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 151 community characteristics from the American Community Survey, and 571 consumer expenditures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. SHAP analysis identified important target-prediction features for 3 RIHC outcome metrics. Results 2475 counties with emergency rooms and 2491 counties with hospitals were included. The median yearly emergency room visits per capita was 0.450 [IQR:0.318, 0.618], the median inpatient days per capita was 0.368 [IQR: 0.176, 0.826], and the median hospital expenditures per capita was $2104 [IQR: $1299.93, 3362.97]. The coefficient of determination (R2), calculated on the test set, ranged between 0.267 and 0.447. Demographic and community characteristics were among the important predictors for all 3 RIHC outcome metrics. Conclusions Integrating diverse population characteristics from numerous governmental sources, we predicted 3-outcome metrics of RIHC among U.S. counties with good performance, offering a novel and actionable tool for identifying super-utilizer segments in the population. Wider integration of routinely collected data can be used to develop alternative methods for predicting RIHC among population units.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Iben M. Ricket
- Department of Epidemiology, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Michael E. Matheny
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Care Center, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System VA, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Todd A. MacKenzie
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Jennifer A. Emond
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
- Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | | | - Jeremiah R. Brown
- Department of Epidemiology, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Buitron de la Vega P, Ashe EM, Xuan Z, Gast V, Saint-Phard T, Brody-Fialkin J, Okonkwo F, Power J, Wang N, Lyons C, Silverstein M, Lasser KE. A Pharmacy Liaison-Patient Navigation Intervention to Reduce Inpatient and Emergency Department Utilization Among Primary Care Patients in a Medicaid Accountable Care Organization: A Nonrandomized Controlled Trial. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2250004. [PMID: 36622674 PMCID: PMC9856667 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.50004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Patients with unmet health-related social needs are at high risk for preventable health care utilization. Prior interventions to identify health-related social needs and provide navigation services with community resources have not taken place in pharmacy settings. OBJECTIVE To evaluate an enhancement of pharmacy care to reduce hospital admissions and emergency department (ED) visits among primary care patients in a Medicaid accountable care organization (ACO). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This nonrandomized controlled trial was conducted from May 1, 2019, through March 4, 2021, with 1 year of follow-up. Study allocation was determined by odd or even medical record number. The study was performed at a general internal medicine practice at a large safety-net hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. Patients who qualified for the hospital's pharmacy care program (aged 18-64 years and within the third to tenth percentile for health care utilization and cost among Medicaid ACO membership) who attended a visit with a primary care clinician were eligible. Of 770 eligible patients, 577 were approached, 127 declined, and 86 could not be contacted. INTERVENTIONS Patients in the control group received usual pharmacy care focused on medication adherence. Patients in the intervention group received enhanced pharmacy care with an additional focus on identification of and intervention for health-related social needs. The intervention took place for 1 year. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was inpatient hospital admissions and ED visits (composite outcome) in the 12 months after enrollment during the intervention period. RESULTS Among 364 allocated patients (mean [SD] age, 50.1 [10.1] years; 216 women [59.3%]), 35 were Hispanic of any race (9.6%) and 214 were non-Hispanic Black (58.8%). All participants were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. In analyses controlling for baseline hospital admissions and ED visits the year prior to enrollment, the enhanced pharmacy care group was not associated with the odds of having any hospital admission or ED visit (adjusted odds ratio, 0.62 [95% CI, 0.23-1.62]; P = .32) among all patients and was not associated with the visit rates among those with any visit (adjusted rate ratio, 0.93 [95% CI, 0.71-1.22]; P = .62) relative to the usual pharmacy care group in the year following enrollment. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The findings of this nonrandomized controlled trial suggest that inpatient and ED utilization among Medicaid ACO members at a safety-net hospital was not significantly different between groups at 1-year follow-up. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03919084.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Buitron de la Vega
- Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Erin M. Ashe
- Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ziming Xuan
- Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Vi Gast
- Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Tracey Saint-Phard
- Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | | | - Julia Power
- Action for Boston Community Development Inc, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Na Wang
- Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Chris Lyons
- Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Karen E. Lasser
- Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Ahomäki I, Böckerman P, Pehkonen J, Saastamoinen L. Effect of Information Intervention on Prescribing Practice for Neuropathic Pain in Older Patients: A Nationwide Register-Based Study. Drugs Aging 2023; 40:81-88. [PMID: 36633822 PMCID: PMC9883359 DOI: 10.1007/s40266-022-00993-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Management of prescription medicines is challenging for older patients due to frail health and the prevalence of multiple chronic conditions. A salient policy challenge of prescribing practices is that all physicians are not well informed about the national clinical guidelines. A feasible policy intervention to mitigate the harms caused by Potentially Inappropriate Medications is to influence the frequency of prescribing and other prescribing attributes of the drugs by providing accurate and up-to-date information about the national clinical guidelines. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to examine the effect of a nationwide information intervention on physicians' prescribing practices and patients' healthcare utilization. METHODS We used a quasi-experimental research design based on difference-in-differences variation and nationwide register data on prescribers and purchasers of pregabalin, nortriptyline, and amitriptyline combinations in Finland between January 2018 and May 2019. The study included 68,914 patients and 11,432 physicians. RESULTS We found that the information letter sent to all prescribers of pregabalin, nortriptyline, or amitriptyline combinations to patients aged 75 years or older decreased the probability of prescribing of these medications. The estimated effect of - 3.3 percentage points (95% confidence interval [- 0.041, - 0.024]) corresponds to a 29% reduction compared to the baseline mean of the outcome. The filled quantity, measured in Defined Daily Doses, of pregabalin, nortriptyline, and amitriptyline combinations per month was reduced by 11.7% [- 14.5% to - 8.9%] among patients aged 75 years or older. No effect on patients' healthcare utilization was observed. CONCLUSIONS Findings of the study suggest that personal information intervention was an effective policy tool for nudging physicians to reduce prescribing of potentially inappropriate medicines, whereas the reduction in prescribing was not accompanied by improvements or adverse effects in patients' health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Iiro Ahomäki
- School of Business and Economics, University of Jyväskylä, PO Box 35, 40014, Jyvaskyla, Finland. .,The Social Insurance Institution of Finland, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Petri Böckerman
- grid.9681.60000 0001 1013 7965School of Business and Economics, University of Jyväskylä, PO Box 35, 40014 Jyvaskyla, Finland
| | - Jaakko Pehkonen
- grid.9681.60000 0001 1013 7965School of Business and Economics, University of Jyväskylä, PO Box 35, 40014 Jyvaskyla, Finland
| | - Leena Saastamoinen
- grid.460437.20000 0001 2186 1430The Social Insurance Institution of Finland, Helsinki, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Fleming MD, Safaeinili N, Knox M, Hernandez E, Esteban EE, Sarkar U, Brewster AL. Conceptualizing the effective mechanisms of a social needs case management program shown to reduce hospital use: a qualitative study. BMC Health Serv Res 2022; 22:1585. [PMID: 36572882 PMCID: PMC9791730 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-022-08979-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social needs case management programs are a strategy to coordinate social and medical care for high-risk patients. Despite widespread interest in social needs case management, not all interventions have shown effectiveness. A lack of evidence about the mechanisms through which these complex interventions benefit patients inhibits effective translation to new settings. The CommunityConnect social needs case management program in Contra Costa County, California recently demonstrated an ability to reduce inpatient hospital admissions by 11% in a randomized study. We sought to characterize the mechanisms through which the Community Connect social needs case management program was effective in helping patients access needed medical and social services and avoid hospitalization. An in-depth understanding of how this intervention worked can support effective replication elsewhere. METHODS Using a case study design, we conducted semi-structured, qualitative interviews with case managers (n = 30) and patients enrolled in social needs case management (n = 31), along with field observations of patient visits (n = 31). Two researchers coded all interview transcripts and observation fieldnotes. Analysis focused on program elements identified by patients and staff as important to effectiveness. RESULTS Our analyses uncovered three primary mechanisms through which case management impacted patient access to needed medical and social services: [1] Psychosocial work, defined as interpersonal and emotional support provided through the case manager-patient relationship, [2] System mediation work to navigate systems, coordinate resources, and communicate information and [3] Addressing social needs, or working to directly mitigate the impact of social conditions on patient health. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight that the system mediation tasks which are the focus of many social needs assistance interventions offered by health care systems may be necessary but insufficient. Psychosocial support and direct assistance with social needs, enabled by a relationship-focused program, may also be necessary for effectiveness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark D. Fleming
- grid.47840.3f0000 0001 2181 7878University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health—Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Nadia Safaeinili
- grid.47840.3f0000 0001 2181 7878University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health—Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Margae Knox
- grid.47840.3f0000 0001 2181 7878University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health—Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Elizabeth Hernandez
- grid.421504.60000 0004 0442 6009Contra Costa Health Services, Contra Costa County—Concord, California, USA
| | - Emily E. Esteban
- grid.421504.60000 0004 0442 6009Contra Costa Health Services, Contra Costa County—Concord, California, USA
| | - Urmimala Sarkar
- grid.267103.10000 0004 0461 8879Department of Medicine—San Francisco, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Amanda L. Brewster
- grid.47840.3f0000 0001 2181 7878University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health—Berkeley, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Salvalaggio G, Dong KA, Hyshka E, McCabe C, Nixon L, Rosychuk RJ, Dmitrienko K, Krajnak J, Mrklas K, Wild TC. Impact of an addiction medicine consult team intervention in a Canadian inner city hospital on acute care utilization: a pragmatic quasi-experimental study. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 2022; 17:20. [PMID: 35279178 PMCID: PMC8917626 DOI: 10.1186/s13011-022-00445-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Inner city patients have a higher illness burden and need for care, but experience more unmet care needs. Hospital Addiction Medicine Consult Teams (AMCTs) are a promising emerging intervention. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of a Canadian AMCT-like intervention for inner city patients on reduction in high emergency department (ED) use, hospital admission, and inpatient length of stay. Methods Using a community-engaged, two-arm, pre-post, longitudinal quasi-experimental study design, 572 patients reporting active substance use, unstable housing, unstable income, or a combination thereof (302 at intervention site, 270 at control sites) were enrolled. Survey and administrative health service data were collected at baseline, six months post-enrolment, and 12 months post-enrolment. Multivariable regression models tested the intervention effect, adjusting for clinically important covariables (inpatient status at enrolment, medical complexity, age, gender, Indigenous identity, shelter use, opioid use). Results Initial bivariable analyses demonstrated an intervention effect on reduction in admissions and length of stay, however, this effect was no longer significant after adjusting for covariables. There was no evidence of reduction in high ED use on either bivariable or subsequent multivariable analysis. Conclusions After adjusting for covariables, no AMCT intervention effect was detected for reduction in high ED use, inpatient admission, or hospital length of stay. Further research is recommended to assess other patient-oriented intervention outcomes. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13011-022-00445-7.
Collapse
|
49
|
LaBedz SL, Prieto-Centurion V, Mutso A, Basu S, Bracken NE, Calhoun EA, DiDomenico RJ, Joo M, Pickard AS, Pittendrigh B, Williams MV, Illendula S, Krishnan JA. Pragmatic Clinical Trial to Improve Patient Experience Among Adults During Transitions from Hospital to Home: the PArTNER study. J Gen Intern Med 2022; 37:4103-4111. [PMID: 35260961 PMCID: PMC9708982 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-022-07461-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Minority-serving hospitals (MSHs) need evidence-based strategies tailored to the populations they serve to improve patient-centered outcomes after hospitalization. METHODS We conducted a pragmatic randomized clinical trial (RCT) from October 2014 to January 2017 at a MSH comparing the effectiveness of a stakeholder-supported Navigator intervention vs. Usual care on post-hospital patient experience, outcomes, and healthcare utilization. Community health workers and peer coaches delivered the intervention which included (1) in-hospital visits to assess barriers to health/healthcare and to develop a personalized Discharge Patient Education Tool (DPET); (2) a home visit to review the DPET; and (3) telephone-based peer coaching. The co-primary outcomes were between-group comparisons of 30-day changes in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) measures of anxiety and informational support (minimum important difference is 2 to 5 units change); a p-value <0.025 was considered significant using intention-to-treat analysis. Secondary outcomes included death, ED visits, or readmissions and measures of emotional, social, and physical health at 30 and 60 days. RESULTS We enrolled 1029 adults hospitalized with heart failure (28%), pneumonia (22%), MI (10%), COPD (11%), or sickle cell disease (29%). Over 80% were non-Hispanic Black. Overall, there were no significant between-group differences in the 30-day change in anxiety (adjusted difference: -1.6, 97.5% CI -3.3 to 0.1, p=0.03), informational support (adjusted difference: -0.01, 97.5% CI -2.0 to 1.9, p=0.99), or any secondary outcomes. Exploratory analyses suggested the Navigator intervention improved anxiety among participants with COPD, a primary care provider, a hospitalization in the past 12 months, or higher baseline anxiety; among participants without health insurance, the intervention improved informational support (all p-values <0.05). CONCLUSIONS In this pragmatic RCT at a MSH, the Navigator intervention did not improve post-hospital anxiety, informational support, or other outcomes compared to Usual care. Benefits observed in participant subgroups should be confirmed in future studies. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02114515.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie L LaBedz
- Breathe Chicago Center, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep, and Allergy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Valentin Prieto-Centurion
- Breathe Chicago Center, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep, and Allergy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Amelia Mutso
- Department of Pharmacology & Regenerative Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sanjib Basu
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Nina E Bracken
- Breathe Chicago Center, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep, and Allergy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Calhoun
- Department of Population Health, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Robert J DiDomenico
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Min Joo
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep, and Allergy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - A Simon Pickard
- Department of Pharmacy Systems, Outcomes and Policy, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Mark V Williams
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Sai Illendula
- Breathe Chicago Center, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep, and Allergy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jerry A Krishnan
- Breathe Chicago Center, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep, and Allergy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Population Health Sciences Program, University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Adams JL, Davis AC, Schneider EC, Hull MM, McGlynn EA. The distillation method: A novel approach for analyzing randomized trials when exposure to the intervention is diluted. Health Serv Res 2022; 57:1361-1369. [PMID: 35752926 PMCID: PMC9643092 DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.14014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To introduce a novel analytical approach for randomized controlled trials that are underpowered because of low participant enrollment or engagement. DATA SOURCES Reanalysis of data for 805 patients randomized as part of a pilot complex care intervention in 2015-2016 in a large delivery system. In the pilot randomized trial, only 64.6% of patients assigned to the intervention group participated. STUDY DESIGN A case study and simulation. The "Distillation Method" capitalizes on the frequently observed correlation between the probability of subjects' participation or engagement in the intervention and the magnitude of benefit they experience. The novel method involves three stages: first, it uses baseline covariates to generate predicted probabilities of participation. Next, these are used to produce nested subsamples of the randomized intervention and control groups that are more concentrated with subjects who were likely to participate/engage. Finally, for the outcomes of interest, standard statistical methods are used to re-evaluate intervention effectiveness in these concentrated subsets. DATA EXTRACTION METHODS We assembled secondary data on patients who were randomized to the pilot intervention for one year prior to randomization and two follow-up years. Data included program enrollment status, membership data, demographics, utilization, costs, and clinical data. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Using baseline covariates only, Generalized Boosted Regression Models predicting program enrollment performed well (AUC 0.884). We then distilled the full randomized sample to increasing levels of concentration and reanalyzed program outcomes. We found statistically significant differences in outpatient utilization and emergency department utilization (both follow-up years), and in total costs (follow-up year two only) at select levels of population concentration. CONCLUSIONS By offering an internally valid analytic framework, the Distillation Method can increase the power to detect effects by redefining the estimand to subpopulations with higher enrollment probabilities and stronger average treatment effects while maintaining the original randomization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John L. Adams
- Center for Effectiveness and Safety ResearchKaiser PermanentePasadenaCaliforniaUSA,Department of Health Systems ScienceKaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of MedicinePasadenaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Anna C. Davis
- Center for Effectiveness and Safety ResearchKaiser PermanentePasadenaCaliforniaUSA,Department of Health Systems ScienceKaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of MedicinePasadenaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Eric C. Schneider
- Quality Measurement and Research GroupNational Committee for Quality AssuranceWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
| | - Michaela M. Hull
- Center for Effectiveness and Safety ResearchKaiser PermanentePasadenaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Elizabeth A. McGlynn
- Center for Effectiveness and Safety ResearchKaiser PermanentePasadenaCaliforniaUSA,Department of Health Systems ScienceKaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of MedicinePasadenaCaliforniaUSA,Health Plan and Hospital QualityKaiser PermanenteOaklandCaliforniaUSA
| |
Collapse
|