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Zhu E, McCreedy E, Teno JM. Bereaved Respondent Perceptions of Quality of Care by Inpatient Palliative Care Utilization in the Last Month of Life. J Gen Intern Med 2024; 39:893-901. [PMID: 38240917 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-023-08588-4] [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] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Under traditional Medicare, accountability measures are specific to each healthcare setting. With the growth of alternative payment models such as Medicare Advantage, the focus of accountability measures can be on the longitudinal episode of care. OBJECTIVE Using the last month of life as the episode of care, examine bereaved family member perceptions of the quality of care by site of death and inpatient palliative/hospice care. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study using the National Health Aging Trends Study waves 3-11. SUBJECTS US decedents age 65 and older with family member or close friend survey response. MAIN MEASURES Overall rating of the quality of care, perceptions of symptom management, being treated with respect, emotional/spiritual support, communication, and receipt of care that the decedent did not want. KEY RESULTS Among 2796 interviews (weighted N = 12.6 million), 25.7% died at home with hospice, 10.9% at home without hospice, 10.0% in the ICU, 6.4% at a palliative care unit (PCU), 6.4% at a hospice IPU, 9.1% at hospital without inpatient palliative care, 13.2% at a nursing home without hospice, 9.8% in a nursing home with hospice, 4.1% at a hospice residence, and 4.4% at other locations without hospice. Dying at home with hospice received the highest rating of quality of care (60.2% stated excellent care) while the adjusted marginal differences in sites of death with inpatient palliative care services were rated lower: hospice residence 25.6% points lower (95% CI (-13.7%, -37.5%)) and a freestanding IPU was 16.9% points lower (95% CI (- 4.9%, -29.0%)). CONCLUSION Examining the episode of care as the last month of life, hospice at home is associated with higher rating of the quality of care while inpatient palliative care services in hospital, hospice residence, or hospice IPU settings are rated lower.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enya Zhu
- Center for Gerontology & Healthcare Research, Brown University School of Public Health, 121 South Main St, Providence, RI, 02912, USA.
- Department of Health Services, Brown University School of Public Health, Policy & Practice121 South Main St, Providence, RI, 02912, USA.
- Department of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
- Department of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 125 Nashua Street, Rm 421, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
| | - Ellen McCreedy
- Center for Gerontology & Healthcare Research, Brown University School of Public Health, 121 South Main St, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
- Department of Health Services, Brown University School of Public Health, Policy & Practice121 South Main St, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
- Center for Long-Term Care Quality & Innovation, Brown University School of Public Health, 121 South Main St, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | - Joan M Teno
- Department of Health Services, Brown University School of Public Health, Policy & Practice121 South Main St, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
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Kranker K, Niedzwiecki MJ, Pohl RV, Saffer TL, Chen A, Gellar J, Forrow LV, Miescier L. Medicare Care Choices Model Improved End-Of-Life Care, Lowered Medicare Expenditures, And Increased Hospice Use. Health Aff (Millwood) 2023; 42:1488-1497. [PMID: 37931188 DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2023.00465] [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: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
The Medicare Care Choices Model (MCCM) tested a new option for eligible Medicare beneficiaries to receive conventional treatment for terminal conditions along with supportive and palliative care from participating hospice providers. Using claims data, we estimated differences in average outcomes from enrollment to death between deceased MCCM enrollees and matched comparison beneficiaries who received usual services covered by original Medicare. Enrollees were 15 percentage points less likely to receive an aggressive life-prolonging treatment at the end of life and spent more than five more days at home. MCCM also reduced net Medicare expenditures by 13 percent, decreased inpatient admissions by 26 percent, reduced outpatient emergency department visits by 12 percent, and increased hospice use by 18 percentage points. Although the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services did not expand the model, given concerns about generalizability, these results provide evidence that MCCM is a promising approach to transforming care delivery at the end of life.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Tonya L Saffer
- Tonya L. Saffer, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | | | | | - Lynn Miescier
- Lynn Miescier, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Yamarik RL, Tan A, Brody AA, Curtis J, Chiu L, Bouillon-Minois JB, Grudzen CR. Nurse-Led Telephonic Palliative Care: A Case-Based Series of a Novel Model of Palliative Care Delivery. J Hosp Palliat Nurs 2022; 24:E3-E9. [PMID: 35149656 DOI: 10.1097/njh.0000000000000850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Americans near the end of life experience high rates of nonbeneficial, burdensome, and preventable hospital-based care. If patients' goals of care are unknown or unclear, they have higher rates of hospitalization at the end of life. The demand for palliative care has grown exponentially because of its impact on quality of life, symptom burden, and resource use, requiring the development of new palliative care models. Nurses' holistic outlook and patient-centered focus make them ideal to deliver telephonic palliative care. This article discusses 4 cases delivered by a nurse-led telephonic palliative care program, a part of the Emergency Medicine Palliative Care Access project, which is a randomized controlled trial comparing outpatient palliative care with nurse-led telephonic case management after an emergency department visit. Telephonic nurses discuss patients' goals, fears, hopes, and concerns regarding their illness and its trajectory that inform decisions for future interventions and treatments. In addition, they share this information with the patients' surrogate decision-makers and clinicians to facilitate care coordination and symptom management. For seriously ill patients, nurses' abilities and expertise, as well as the difficulties of providing care through in-person models of palliative care delivery, make a nurse-led telephonic model an optimal option.
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Lim CT, Rosenfeld LC, Nissen NJ, Wang PS, Patel NC, Powers BW, Huang H. Remote care management for older adult populations with elevated prevalence of depression or anxiety and comorbid chronic medical illness: A systematic review. J Acad Consult Liaison Psychiatry 2022; 63:198-212. [PMID: 35189427 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaclp.2022.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Comorbidity of psychiatric and medical illnesses among older adult populations is highly prevalent and associated with adverse outcomes. Care management is a common form of outpatient support for both psychiatric and medical conditions in which assessment, care planning, and care coordination are provided. Although care management is often remote and delivered by telephone, the evidence supporting this model of care is uncertain. OBJECTIVE To perform a systematic review of the literature on remote care management programs for older adult populations with elevated prevalence of depression or anxiety and comorbid chronic medical illness. METHODS A systematic review was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. A multi-database search was performed. Articles were included for review if they studied fully remote care management for older adult populations with elevated prevalence of depression or anxiety and chronic medical illness or poor physical health. A narrative synthesis was performed. RESULTS A total of 6 articles representing 6 unique studies met inclusion criteria. The 6 studies included 4 randomized controlled trials, 1 case-matched retrospective cohort study, and 1 pre-post analysis. Two studies focused on specific medical conditions. All interventions were entirely telephonic. Five of 6 studies involved an intervention that was 3 to 6 months in duration. Across the 6 studies, care management demonstrated mixed results in terms of impact on psychiatric outcomes and limited impact on medical outcomes. No studies demonstrated a statistically significant impact on health care utilization or cost. CONCLUSION Among older adult populations with elevated prevalence of depression or anxiety and comorbid chronic medical illness, remote care management may have favorable impact on psychiatric symptoms, but impact on physical health and health care utilization is uncertain. Future research should focus on identifying effective models and elements of remote care management for this population, with a particular focus on optimizing medical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher T Lim
- Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Humana Inc., Louisville, KY, USA.
| | - Lisa C Rosenfeld
- Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Humana Inc., Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Nicholas J Nissen
- Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Humana Inc., Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Philip S Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Humana Inc., Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Nick C Patel
- Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Humana Inc., Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Brian W Powers
- Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Humana Inc., Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Hsiang Huang
- Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Humana Inc., Louisville, KY, USA
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Fernandes R, Fess EG, Sullivan S, Brack M, DeMarco T, Li D. Supportive Care for Superutilizers of a Managed Care Organization. J Palliat Med 2020; 23:1444-1451. [PMID: 32456602 PMCID: PMC7583336 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2019.0288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Ohana Health Plan, Inc., (OHP) is one of the first managed care organizations offering supportive care services targeted to superutilizers. Bristol Hospice Hawaii, LLC, partnered with OHP to provide interdisciplinary supportive care services to home-bound OHP members. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to measure symptom relief, satisfaction, resource utilization, and cost savings associated with supportive care. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Over 12 months, 27 superutilizer members residing in the community were referred by OHP, 21 members were enrolled into supportive care. Measurements: Data were collected upon admission and repeatedly thereafter using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) and the Missoula-Vitas Quality of Life Index (MVQOLI). The Family Satisfaction with Advanced Cancer Care (FAMCARE) Scale was administered at discharge. Emergency department (ED) visits and hospital utilization were tracked. Results: Median age was 63 years; more than half had cardiac diagnoses. Majority of members were Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander. Median length of stay in supportive care was 90 days. Five (23%) members enrolled in hospice following supportive care. Symptom improvement occurred in pain (p < 0.0001), anxiety (p = 0.0052), and shortness of breath (p = 0.0447). This model has shown a 79.5% reduction of ED visits per thousand members and a 75% reduction of hospitalizations per thousand. Overall net savings was 36%. Discussions and documentation of end-of-life wishes increased from 23% to 85%. Conclusion: Supportive care is highly effective in reducing costs associated with superutilizers. Our experience demonstrates the effectiveness of supportive care approaches in this population through improved care and lower health care costs overall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritabelle Fernandes
- Division of Palliative Medicine, Department of Geriatric Medicine, John A Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.,Bristol Hospice Hawaii, LLC, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
| | - Ed G Fess
- Ohana Health Plan, Inc., Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
| | | | - Mona Brack
- Ohana Health Plan, Inc., Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
| | - Tara DeMarco
- Bristol Hospice Hawaii, LLC, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
| | - Dongmei Li
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
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Currow DC, Soyiri IN. Death Took a Vacation … and It's Almost Over. J Palliat Med 2019; 22:1298-1299. [PMID: 31661391 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2019.0483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- David C Currow
- IMPACCT (Improving Palliative, Aged, and Chronic Care Through Clinical Research and Translation), Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia.,Wolfson Palliative Care Research Centre, University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom
| | - Ireneous N Soyiri
- Institute for Clinical and Applied Health Research, Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom
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