National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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Topics
- Adverse Drug Events (ADE) (2)
- Adverse Events (1)
- Cardiovascular Conditions (3)
- Care Coordination (10)
- Caregiving (2)
- Care Management (1)
- Children/Adolescents (3)
- Chronic Conditions (1)
- Communication (3)
- Comparative Effectiveness (1)
- COVID-19 (1)
- Critical Care (1)
- Disparities (1)
- Elderly (4)
- Electronic Health Records (EHRs) (2)
- Emergency Department (8)
- Evidence-Based Practice (2)
- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) (4)
- Healthcare Costs (1)
- Healthcare Delivery (10)
- Health Information Exchange (HIE) (1)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (4)
- Heart Disease and Health (1)
- Home Healthcare (2)
- Hospital Discharge (11)
- Hospitalization (3)
- Hospital Readmissions (6)
- (-) Hospitals (44)
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (1)
- Inpatient Care (2)
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU) (1)
- Long-Term Care (3)
- Medical Errors (1)
- Medical Liability (1)
- Medicare (3)
- Medication (2)
- Medication: Safety (2)
- Mortality (5)
- Newborns/Infants (1)
- Nursing Homes (7)
- Outcomes (7)
- Patient-Centered Healthcare (1)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (2)
- Patient and Family Engagement (1)
- Patient Experience (2)
- Patient Safety (10)
- Policy (1)
- Primary Care (1)
- Primary Care: Models of Care (1)
- Provider (2)
- Provider: Nurse (2)
- Provider: Physician (2)
- Public Health (1)
- Quality Improvement (3)
- Quality Indicators (QIs) (1)
- Quality Measures (1)
- Quality of Care (7)
- Racial and Ethnic Minorities (1)
- Risk (3)
- Sepsis (1)
- Shared Decision Making (1)
- Stroke (2)
- Surgery (6)
- (-) Transitions of Care (44)
- Trauma (1)
- Workflow (1)
AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
1 to 25 of 44 Research Studies DisplayedMueller SK, Garabedian P, Goralnick E
Advancing health information during interhospital transfer: an interrupted time series.
The researchers report that health information exchange (HIE) during the interhospital transfer (IHT) of patients between acute care hospitals is subject to fragmented communication and unreliable access to clinical information. This proposed study will design, implement, and rigorously evaluate the implementation of a HIE platform to improve data access during IHT. The four-fold purposes of this study are to: 1) optimize clinician workflow, data visualization, and interoperability through user-centered design sessions for HIE platform development; 2) evaluate the impact of the intervention on clinician-reported medical errors among 500 pre- and 500 postintervention IHT patients using interrupted time series methodology; 3) evaluate intervention fidelity, use, and perceived usability of the platform, and barriers and facilitators of implementation from interprofessional stakeholder input, using mixed-methods evaluation; and 4) combine primary findings to develop a toolkit for spread and sustainability.
AHRQ-funded; HS028982.
Citation: Mueller SK, Garabedian P, Goralnick E .
Advancing health information during interhospital transfer: an interrupted time series.
J Hosp Med 2023 Dec; 18(12):1063-71. doi: 10.1002/jhm.13221..
Keywords: Health Information Exchange (HIE), Health Information Technology (HIT), Hospitals, Transitions of Care
Desai AD, Tolpadi A, Parast L
Improving the quality of written discharge instructions: a multisite collaborative project.
This study assessed the association between participation in an Institute for Healthcare Improvement Virtual Breakthrough Series collaborative and the quality of pediatric written discharge instructions across 8 US hospitals. The authors conducted a multicenter, interrupted time-series analysis of a medical records-based quality measure focused on written discharge instruction content (0-100 scale, higher scores reflect better quality). They obtained data from a random sample of pediatric patients (n = 5739) discharged from participating hospitals between September 2015 and August 2016, and between December 2017 and January 2020. The study periods consisted of 3 phases: 1) a 14-month pre-collaborative phase; 2) a 12-month quality improvement collaborative phase when hospitals implemented multiple rapid cycle tests of change and shared improvement strategies; and 3) a 12-month postcollaborative phase. Among hospitals with high baseline performance, measure scores improved beyond expected for the precollaborative trend, but hospitals with low baseline performance, measure scores increased at a lower than expected rate.
AHRQ-funded; HS025291.
Citation: Desai AD, Tolpadi A, Parast L .
Improving the quality of written discharge instructions: a multisite collaborative project.
Pediatrics 2023 May; 151(5):e2022059452. doi: 10.1542/peds.2022-059452..
Keywords: Hospital Discharge, Transitions of Care, Hospitals
Fernandes-Taylor S, Yang Q, Yang DY
Greater patient sharing between hospitals is associated with better outcomes for transferred emergency general surgery patients.
The availability of emergency surgical services has diminished as the rural workforce has decreased. The growing need for interhospital patient transfers makes care coordination across different settings essential for maintaining high-quality care. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of recurrent patient-sharing between hospitals on the outcomes of emergency general surgery (EGS) patient transfers. A multicenter analysis was conducted involving inpatient acute care hospital stays in Wisconsin that required the transfer of EGS patients. Data was sourced from the Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA), a comprehensive statewide hospital discharge database for the years 2016-2018. We postulated that a higher percentage of patients transferred between hospitals would lead to improved outcomes. The relationship between the proportion of EGS patient transfers and patient outcomes, such as in-hospital morbidity, mortality, and duration of stay, was examined. Additional factors considered were hospital organizational features and patient sociodemographic and clinical attributes. The researchers found that during the two-year study period, 118 hospitals transferred 3,197 EGS patients; 1,131 of these patients experienced in-hospital complications, death, or an extended stay (beyond the 75th percentile). The average patient age was 62 years, with 50% being female and 5% non-white. In the mixed-effects model, the proportion of shared patients between hospitals was linked to a reduced likelihood of in-hospital complications. Specifically, when the proportion of shared patients doubled between two hospitals, the relative odds of any adverse outcome shifted by 0.85.
AHRQ-funded; HS025224
Citation: Fernandes-Taylor S, Yang Q, Yang DY .
Greater patient sharing between hospitals is associated with better outcomes for transferred emergency general surgery patients.
J Trauma Acute Care Surg 2023 Apr;94(5):592-98. doi: 10.1097/ta.0000000000003789.
Keywords: Emergency Department, Hospitals, Surgery, Transitions of Care
Xiao Y, Smith A, Abebe E
Understanding hazards for adverse drug events among older adults after hospital discharge: insights from frontline care professionals.
The purpose of this study was to utilize a systems approach to examine hazards to medication safety for older adults during care transitions. The researchers interviewed 38 hospital-based professionals (5 hospitalists, 24 nurses, 4 clinical pharmacists, 3 pharmacy technicians, and 2 social workers) from 4 hospitals about ADE risks after hospital discharge among older adults. For each concern the participants provided, the hazard for medication-related harms was coded and grouped by its sources utilizing a human factors and systems engineering model. The study found that the hazards fell into 6 groups: 1) medication tasks related at home, 2) patient and caregiver related, 3) hospital work system related, 4) home resource related, 5) hospital professional-patient collaborative work related, and 6) external environment related. The type of medications indicated most frequently when describing concerns included anticoagulants, insulins, and diuretics. The types of hazards coded the most were: complex dosing, patient and caregiver knowledge gaps in medication management, errors in discharge medications, unaffordable cost, inadequate understanding about changes in medications, and gaps in access to care or in sharing medication information.
AHRQ-funded; HS024436.
Citation: Xiao Y, Smith A, Abebe E .
Understanding hazards for adverse drug events among older adults after hospital discharge: insights from frontline care professionals.
J Patient Saf 2022 Dec 1;18(8):e1174-e80. doi: 10.1097/pts.0000000000001046..
Keywords: Elderly, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Medication, Medication: Safety, Hospital Discharge, Hospitals, Transitions of Care
Bourgoin A, Balaban R, Hochman M
AHRQ Author: Perfetto D, Hogan EM
Improving quality and safety for patients after hospital discharge: primary care as the lead integrator in postdischarge care transitions.
The purpose of this study was to explain primary care-based transition workflow processes for hospitalized patients. The researchers conducted interviews with primary care thought leaders, staff at 9 primary care sites, community agency staff, and recently discharged patients. The researchers found that primary care postdischarge workflows vary across the different settings, rarely include communications with the patient or the inpatient team during the hospitalization and vary widely across settings. The researchers recommended the use of principles for primary care practices to encourage active participation in the full spectrum of postdischarge care, from admission through the first postdischarge visit to primary care.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; 233201500019I/HHSP23337002T.
Citation: Bourgoin A, Balaban R, Hochman M .
Improving quality and safety for patients after hospital discharge: primary care as the lead integrator in postdischarge care transitions.
J Ambul Care Manage 2022 Oct-Dec;45(4):310-20. doi: 10.1097/jac.0000000000000433..
Keywords: Quality of Care, Patient Safety, Hospital Discharge, Transitions of Care, Hospitals, Workflow
Usher MC, Tignanelli CJ, Hilliard B
Responding to COVID-19 through interhospital resource coordination: a mixed-methods evaluation
Researchers sought to describe a novel hospital system approach to managing the COVID-19 pandemic, including multihospital coordination capability and transfer of COVID-19 patients to a single, dedicated hospital. They found that, with standardized communication, interhospital transfers were a safe and effective method of cohorting COVID-19 patients, were well-received by health care providers, and had the potential to improve care quality.
AHRQ-funded; HS026379; HS026732.
Citation: Usher MC, Tignanelli CJ, Hilliard B .
Responding to COVID-19 through interhospital resource coordination: a mixed-methods evaluation
J Patient Saf 2022 Jun 1;18(4):287-94. doi: 10.1097/pts.0000000000000916..
Keywords: COVID-19, Hospitals, Healthcare Delivery, Public Health, Care Coordination, Transitions of Care
Yu A, Jordan SR, Gilmartin H
"Our hands are tied until your doctor gets here": nursing perspectives on inter-hospital transfers.
The purpose of this study was to characterize the experiences of inpatient floor-level bedside nurses caring for inter-hospital transfer (IHT) patients and to identify care coordination challenges and solutions. Results from this study are mapped to AHRQ’s Care Coordination Measurement Framework domains of communication, assessing needs and goals, and negotiating accountability. Findings showed that three key themes characterized nurses' experiences with IHT related to these domains: challenges with information exchange and team communication during IHT, environmental and information preparation needed to anticipate transfers, and determining responsibility and care plans after the IHT patient has arrived at the accepting facility.
AHRQ-funded; HS023331.
Citation: Yu A, Jordan SR, Gilmartin H .
"Our hands are tied until your doctor gets here": nursing perspectives on inter-hospital transfers.
J Gen Intern Med 2022 May;37(7):1729-36. doi: 10.1007/s11606-021-07276-5..
Keywords: Transitions of Care, Hospitals, Provider: Nurse
Mueller SK, Shannon E, Dalal A
Patient and physician experience with interhospital transfer: a qualitative study.
This qualitative study explored patients’ and involved physicians’ experience with interhospital transfer (IHT) to understand specific factors that may impact the quality and safety of this care transition. Individual interviews were conducted with adult patients transferred to cardiology, general medicine, and oncology services at a tertiary care academic medical center, as well as their transferring physician, accepting attending physician, and accepting/admitting resident physician. Participants included 10 adults (6 cardiology, 2 medicine, and 2 oncology), 9 accepting attending physicians, 12 accepting and/or admitting resident physicians, and 5 transferring physicians. Emergent themes demonstrated that participants held a shared understanding for the reason for the transfer and relayed a general dissatisfaction regarding the timing and lack of advanced notification of transfer. The authors found distinct differences in IHT experience by stakeholder group - with physicians relaying discontent on intrahospital chains of communication and interhospital information exchange, and patient participants focused more readily on the physical aspects of IHT.
AHRQ-funded; HS023331.
Citation: Mueller SK, Shannon E, Dalal A .
Patient and physician experience with interhospital transfer: a qualitative study.
J Patient Saf 2021 Dec 1;17(8):e752-e57. doi: 10.1097/pts.0000000000000501..
Keywords: Transitions of Care, Hospitals, Hospitalization, Provider: Physician, Patient Experience
Kunz SN, Helkey D, Zitnik M
Quantifying the variation in neonatal transport referral patterns using network analysis.
This retrospective study evaluated the association of neonatal patient characteristics with quantitative differences in neonatal transport networks. Data was analyzed for infants <28 days of age acutely transported within California from 2008 to 2012. The authors analyzed 34,708 acute transfers, representing 1594 unique transfer routes between 271 hospitals. They found greater degrees of regionalization for preterm and surgical patients compared to term infants and those transported for medical reasons.
AHRQ-funded; HS025749.
Citation: Kunz SN, Helkey D, Zitnik M .
Quantifying the variation in neonatal transport referral patterns using network analysis.
J Perinatol 2021 Dec;41(12):2795-803. doi: 10.1038/s41372-021-01091-w..
Keywords: Newborns/Infants, Hospitals, Transitions of Care
Manges KA, Ayele R, Leonard C
Differences in transitional care processes among high-performing and low-performing hospital-SNF pairs: a rapid ethnographic approach.
This study’s objective was to explore differences between low- and high-performing hospitals and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) pairs and postacute care outcomes. The authors used flow maps and thematic analysis to describe the process of hospitals discharging patients to SNFs and to identify differences in subprocesses used by high-performing and low-performing hospitals. Hospitals were classified based on their 30-day readmission rates from SNFs. The final sample included 148 hours of observations with 30 clinicians across four hospitals and five corresponding SNFs. High-performing sites differed in each stage from low-performing sites by focusing on 1) earlier, ongoing, systematic identification of high-risk patients; 2) discussing the decision to go to an SNF as an iterative team-based process and 3) anticipating barriers with knowledge of transitional and SNF care processes.
AHRQ-funded; HS026116.
Citation: Manges KA, Ayele R, Leonard C .
Differences in transitional care processes among high-performing and low-performing hospital-SNF pairs: a rapid ethnographic approach.
BMJ Qual Saf 2021 Aug;30(8):648-57. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2020-011204..
Keywords: Transitions of Care, Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Hospital Readmissions, Hospital Discharge
Sather J, Littauer R, Finn E
A multimodal intervention to improve the quality and safety of interhospital care transitions for nontraumatic intracerebral and subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Regionalization of care has increased interhospital transfers (IHTs) of nontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) to specialized centers yet exposes patients to the latent risks inherent to IHT. In this study, the researchers examined how a multimodal quality improvement intervention affected quality and safety measures for patients with ICH or SAH exposed to IHT.
AHRQ-funded; HS023554.
Citation: Sather J, Littauer R, Finn E .
A multimodal intervention to improve the quality and safety of interhospital care transitions for nontraumatic intracerebral and subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2021 Feb;47(2):99-106. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjq.2020.10.003..
Keywords: Transitions of Care, Hospitals, Patient Safety, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Care Coordination
Fernandes-Taylor S, Yang DY, Schumacher J
Factors associated with Interhospital transfers of emergency general surgery patients from emergency departments.
This study looked at the factors contributing to transfer of emergency general surgery (EGS) patients to another hospital. Data from the AHRQ Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) from 2010-2014 was analyzed. The transfer rate during that time was 1.9%. Patients with Medicare or other insurance had higher odds of transfer compared to patients with private health insurance. Odds of transfer increased with a greater number of comorbid conditions as well as resuscitation, intestinal obstruction, and conditions of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Transfers were more likely to originate from rural hospitals or Level I or II trauma centers.
AHRQ-funded; HS025224.
Citation: Fernandes-Taylor S, Yang DY, Schumacher J .
Factors associated with Interhospital transfers of emergency general surgery patients from emergency departments.
Am J Emerg Med 2021 Feb;40:83-88. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2020.12.012..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Surgery, Emergency Department, Transitions of Care, Hospitals, Healthcare Delivery
Ingraham A, Reinke CE
Optimizing safety for surgical patients undergoing interhospital transfer.
This article discusses the need for standardization and improvement of the interhospital transfer process. The authors advocate studying and adapting quality improvement efforts directed at other transitions of care so that care will improve for surgical patients transferred between acute care institutions.
AHRQ-funded; HS025224.
Citation: Ingraham A, Reinke CE .
Optimizing safety for surgical patients undergoing interhospital transfer.
Surg Clin North Am 2021 Feb;101(1):57-69. doi: 10.1016/j.suc.2020.09.002..
Keywords: Patient Safety, Surgery, Transitions of Care, Hospitals, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care
Makam AN, Nguyen OK, Miller ME
Comparative effectiveness of long-term acute care hospital versus skilled nursing facility transfer.
This study compared the effectiveness of long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) use versus skilled nursing facility (SNF) transfer after hospitalization. Medicare claims linked to electronic health record (EHR) data from six Texas hospitals between 2009 and 2010 were used to conduct a retrospective cohort study of hospitalized patients transferred to either an LTACH or SNF and followed for one year. Out of 3505 patients, 18% were transferred to an LTACH and overall were younger, less likely to be female, and white, but sicker than transfers to an SNF. Patients transferred to an LTACH were less likely to survive (59 vs. 65%) or recover (62.5 vs 66%). Adjusting for demographic and clinical confounders found in Medicare claims and EHR data, transfer location was not significantly associated with differences in mortality but was associated with greater Medicare spending.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Makam AN, Nguyen OK, Miller ME .
Comparative effectiveness of long-term acute care hospital versus skilled nursing facility transfer.
BMC Health Serv Res 2020 Nov 11;20(1):1032. doi: 10.1186/s12913-020-05847-6..
Keywords: Comparative Effectiveness, Evidence-Based Practice, Long-Term Care, Elderly, Medicare, Transitions of Care, Nursing Homes, Hospitals
Shannon EM, Schnipper JL, Mueller SK
Identifying racial/ethnic disparities in interhospital transfer: an observational study.
Interhospital transfer (IHT) is often performed to provide patients with specialized care. Racial/ethnic disparities in IHT have been suggested but are not well-characterized. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between race/ethnicity and IHT. The investigators found that Black and Hispanic patients had lower odds of IHT, largely explained by a higher likelihood of being hospitalized at urban teaching hospitals. Racial/ethnic disparities in transfer were demonstrated at community hospitals, in certain geographic regions and among patients with specific diseases.
AHRQ-funded; HS023331.
Citation: Shannon EM, Schnipper JL, Mueller SK .
Identifying racial/ethnic disparities in interhospital transfer: an observational study.
J Gen Intern Med 2020 Oct;35(10):2939-46. doi: 10.1007/s11606-020-06046-z..
Keywords: Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Disparities, Transitions of Care, Hospitals, Care Coordination
Saleh SN, Makam AN, Halm EA,
Can we predict early 7-day readmissions using a standard 30-day hospital readmission risk prediction model?
Despite focus on preventing 30-day readmissions, early readmissions (within 7 days of discharge) may be more preventable than later readmissions (8-30 days). In this study, the investigators assessed how well a previously validated 30-day EHR-based readmission model predicted 7-day readmissions and compared differences in strength of predictors. They suggested that improvements in predicting early 7-day readmissions will likely require new risk factors proximal to day of discharge.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Saleh SN, Makam AN, Halm EA, .
Can we predict early 7-day readmissions using a standard 30-day hospital readmission risk prediction model?
BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2020 Sep 15;20(1):227. doi: 10.1186/s12911-020-01248-1..
Keywords: Hospital Readmissions, Hospitals, Risk, Transitions of Care, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT)
Terp S, Seabury SA, Axeen S
The association between hospital characteristics and Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act citation events.
The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) is a federal law enacted in 1986 prohibiting patient dumping (refusing or transferring patients with emergency medical conditions without appropriate stabilization), and discrimination based upon ability to pay. In this study, the investigators evaluated hospital-level features associated with citation for EMTALA violation. They concluded that for-profit ownership was associated with increased odds of EMTALA citations after adjusting for other characteristics.
AHRQ-funded; HS025281.
Citation: Terp S, Seabury SA, Axeen S .
The association between hospital characteristics and Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act citation events.
Med Care 2020 Sep;58(9):793-99. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001360..
Keywords: Emergency Department, Hospitals, Policy, Transitions of Care
Philip JL, Yang DY, Wang X
Effect of transfer status on outcomes of emergency general surgery patients.
This study looked at outcomes of transferred (TRAN) versus directly admitted (DA) emergency general surgery (EGS) patients. Patients with a diagnosis of EGS were identified from the 2008-2011 Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS). Outcomes included were in-hospital mortality and morbidity. They identified 274,145 TRAN and 10,456,100 DA encounters. Morbidity and mortality were both higher in TRAN patients than DA. TRAN patients were more likely to have greater comorbidity scores, have Medicare insurance, and reside in an area with a lesser median household income compared to DA patients. Morbidity among TRAN patients were primarily due urinary-, gastrointestinal-, and pulmonary-related complications. Median stay and median cost at the hospital were greater for TRAN patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS025224; HS022694.
Citation: Philip JL, Yang DY, Wang X .
Effect of transfer status on outcomes of emergency general surgery patients.
Surgery 2020 Aug;168(2):280-86. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2020.01.005..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Surgery, Transitions of Care, Mortality, Outcomes, Healthcare Costs, Hospitals
Amar-Dolan LG, Horn MH, O'Connell B B
"This is how hard it is". family experience of hospital-to-home transition with a tracheostomy.
This study explores the experience of family caregivers of children and young adults with a tracheostomy during the transition from hospital to home care. Researchers sought to identify the specific unmet needs of families to direct future interventions. Using semi-structured interviews, they found a need for family-centered discharge processes including coordination of care and teaching focused on emergency preparedness.
AHRQ-funded; HS000063.
Citation: Amar-Dolan LG, Horn MH, O'Connell B B .
"This is how hard it is". family experience of hospital-to-home transition with a tracheostomy.
Ann Am Thorac Soc 2020 Jul;17(7):860-68. doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.201910-780OC..
Keywords: Transitions of Care, Home Healthcare, Caregiving, Patient Experience, Care Coordination, Hospital Discharge, Hospitals, Children/Adolescents, Patient-Centered Healthcare
Zhu W, Patterson BW, Smith M
A Markov chain model for transient analysis of handoff process in emergency departments.
Transfer of care between multiple units or facilities is of significant importance for patient safety, care quality, and operation efficiency. Such transfers are often referred to as handoffs in hospitals, which need to be carried out timely, safely, and smoothly with accurate information. This paper introduced a Markov chain model to study the transients of handoff process in hospital emergency departments.
AHRQ-funded; HS026624.
Citation: Zhu W, Patterson BW, Smith M .
A Markov chain model for transient analysis of handoff process in emergency departments.
IEEE Robot Autom Lett 2020 Jul;5(3):4360-67. doi: 10.1109/lra.2020.2996066..
Keywords: Emergency Department, Hospitals, Transitions of Care, Healthcare Delivery, Patient Safety
Campbell Britton M, Petersen-Pickett J, Hodshon B
Mapping the care transition from hospital to skilled nursing facility.
Researchers used process mapping to illustrate the sequence of events involved with hospital discharge and admission to a skilled nursing facility (SNF). These transitions are often associated with breakdowns in communication that may place patients at risk for adverse events. A quality improvement (QI) team worked with frontline staff at an academic medical center and two local SNFs in the northeastern United States. The final process map included care management, medicine, nursing, admissions and physical therapy service staff. The process map showed numerous activities that need to be coordinated between care teams, and highlighted specific opportunities for improving communication between different teams.
AHRQ-funded; HS023554.
Citation: Campbell Britton M, Petersen-Pickett J, Hodshon B .
Mapping the care transition from hospital to skilled nursing facility.
J Eval Clin Pract 2020 Jun;26(3):786-90. doi: 10.1111/jep.13238..
Keywords: Transitions of Care, Care Coordination, Quality Improvement, Communication, Hospital Discharge, Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Quality of Care
Wooldridge AR, Carayon P, Hoonakker P
Work system barriers and facilitators in inpatient care transitions of pediatric trauma patients.
Hospital-based care of pediatric trauma patients includes transitions between units that are critical for quality of care and patient safety. Using a macroergonomics approach, the investigators identified work system barriers and facilitators in care transitions. They interviewed eighteen healthcare professionals involved in transitions from emergency department (ED) to operating room (OR), OR to pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and ED to PICU.
AHRQ-funded; HS023837.
Citation: Wooldridge AR, Carayon P, Hoonakker P .
Work system barriers and facilitators in inpatient care transitions of pediatric trauma patients.
Appl Ergon 2020 May;85:103059. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2020.103059..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Inpatient Care, Transitions of Care, Healthcare Delivery, Trauma, Hospitals
Fuller TE, Pong DD, Piniella N
Interactive digital health tools to engage patients and caregivers in discharge preparation: implementation study.
This clinical trial studied implementation of a suite of EHR-integrated digital health tools to engage patients, caregivers, and clinicians in discharge preparation during hospitalization. Patients who were enrolled agreed to watch a discharge video, complete a checklist assessing discharge readiness, and request postdischarge text messaging with a physician 24 to 48 hours before their expected discharge date. Out of 752 patient admissions, from December 2017 to July 2018, 510 participated, 416 watched the video and completed the checklist, and 94 completed only the checklist. Most patients endorsed the tools, but felt that the video and checklist would be more useful closer to the actual discharge date. Clinicians participating in focus groups perceived the value for patients but felt that there were a number of limitations including low awareness and variable workflow regarding the intervention. A number of strategies were offered by the authors to address implementation barriers and promote adoption of these tools.
AHRQ-funded; HS024751.
Citation: Fuller TE, Pong DD, Piniella N .
Interactive digital health tools to engage patients and caregivers in discharge preparation: implementation study.
J Med Internet Res 2020 Apr 28;22(4):e15573. doi: 10.2196/15573..
Keywords: Health Information Technology (HIT), Patient and Family Engagement, Caregiving, Hospital Discharge, Transitions of Care, Hospitals
Arulraja MD, Swanson MB, NM
Double inter-hospital transfer in sepsis patients presenting to the ED does not worsen mortality compared to single inter-hospital transfer.
This study investigated whether double inter-hospital transfer in sepsis patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) worsens mortality compared to single inter-hospital transfer. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using 2005-2014 administrative claims data in Iowa. Hospital length-of-stay and cost data was also collected. Compared to non-transfers, single transfers did not have higher mortality rates than double transfers of Iowa sepsis patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS025753.
Citation: Arulraja MD, Swanson MB, NM .
Double inter-hospital transfer in sepsis patients presenting to the ED does not worsen mortality compared to single inter-hospital transfer.
J Crit Care 2020 Apr;56:49-57. doi: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2019.11.018..
Keywords: Sepsis, Transitions of Care, Mortality, Hospitals, Emergency Department, Outcomes
Arbaje AI, Werner NE, Kasda EM
Learning from lawsuits: using malpractice claims data to develop care transitions planning tools.
This study used malpractice claims data to evaluate safety risks during care transitions from hospital to home and to help develop care transitions planning tools and pilot test them. The authors analyzed closed malpractice claims for 230 adult patients discharged from 4 hospital sites. Two structured focus groups were also conducted for stakeholders to review concerns. This led to the development of two care transitions planning tools – one for patients/caregivers and one for healthcare providers. Feasibility on 53 patient discharges were tested for both tools. A total of 33 risk factors corresponding to hospital work system elements, care transitions processes, and care outcomes were found using qualitative analysis. Providers found the tool easy to use and patients felt the length and response of the tool was acceptable.
AHRQ-funded; HS022916; HS019519.
Citation: Arbaje AI, Werner NE, Kasda EM .
Learning from lawsuits: using malpractice claims data to develop care transitions planning tools.
J Patient Saf 2020 Mar;16(1):52-57. doi: 10.1097/pts.0000000000000238.
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Keywords: Medical Liability, Transitions of Care, Risk, Hospital Discharge, Hospitals, Patient Safety