National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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- Access to Care (2)
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- (-) Elderly (24)
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- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (1)
- Patient Adherence/Compliance (1)
- Patient and Family Engagement (1)
- Policy (1)
- Practice Patterns (2)
- Primary Care (3)
- Primary Care: Models of Care (2)
- Quality of Care (2)
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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 24 of 24 Research Studies DisplayedZimmerman S, Carder P, Schwartz L
The imperative to reimagine assisted living.
Assisted living (AL) has existed in the United States for decades, evolving in response to older adults' need for supportive care and distaste for nursing homes and older models of congregate care. AL is state-regulated, provides at least 2 meals a day, around-the-clock supervision, and help with personal care, but is not licensed as a nursing home. This article presents the background regarding those tensions, as well as potential solutions that have been borne out, paving the path to a better future of assisted living.
AHRQ-funded; HS026893.
Citation: Zimmerman S, Carder P, Schwartz L .
The imperative to reimagine assisted living.
J Am Med Dir Assoc 2022 Feb;23(2):225-34. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2021.12.004..
Keywords: Elderly, Long-Term Care, Healthcare Delivery, Workforce, Quality of Care, Quality of Life, Healthcare Costs
Werner NE, Rutkowski RA, Krause S
Disparate perspectives: exploring healthcare professionals' misaligned mental models of older adults' transitions of care between the emergency department and skilled nursing facility.
Care transitions that occur across healthcare system boundaries represent a unique challenge for maintaining high quality care and patient safety, as these systems are typically not aligned to perform the care transition process. In this article, the investigators explored healthcare professionals' mental models of older adults' transitions between the emergency department (ED) and skilled nursing facility (SNF).
AHRQ-funded; HS026624.
Citation: Werner NE, Rutkowski RA, Krause S .
Disparate perspectives: exploring healthcare professionals' misaligned mental models of older adults' transitions of care between the emergency department and skilled nursing facility.
Appl Ergon 2021 Oct;96:103509. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2021.103509..
Keywords: Elderly, Transitions of Care, Emergency Department, Nursing Homes, Healthcare Delivery
Kuo YF, Agrawal P, Chou LN
Assessing association between team structure and health outcome and cost by social network analysis.
Researchers sought to assess the impact of team structure composition and degree of collaboration among various providers on process and outcomes of primary care. Their findings showed that highly connected primary care practices with high collaborative care and less top-down MD-centered authority have lower odds of hospitalization, fewer emergency room admissions, and lower total spending. They concluded that these findings likely reflect better communication and more coordinated care of older patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS020642.
Citation: Kuo YF, Agrawal P, Chou LN .
Assessing association between team structure and health outcome and cost by social network analysis.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2021 Apr;69(4):946-54. doi: 10.1111/jgs.16962..
Keywords: Elderly, Teams, Healthcare Delivery, Primary Care, Primary Care: Models of Care, Care Coordination
Zimmerman S, Guo W, Mao Y, S, Guo W, Mao Y
Health care needs in assisted living: survey data may underestimate chronic conditions.
In this paper, the authors caution that survey data may underestimate chronic conditions when examining healthcare needs in assisted living. Research using electronic and administrative databases has become increasingly common in post-acute and long-term cared. However, data accuracy in some areas has been challenged. Thus, research based on administrative databases must be cautiously interpreted.
AHRQ-funded; HS026893.
Citation: Zimmerman S, Guo W, Mao Y, S, Guo W, Mao Y .
Health care needs in assisted living: survey data may underestimate chronic conditions.
J Am Med Dir Assoc 2021 Feb;22(2):471-73. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2020.11.036..
Keywords: Elderly, Chronic Conditions, Long-Term Care, Healthcare Delivery
Guo F, Lin YL, Raji M
Processes and outcomes of diabetes mellitus care by different types of team primary care models.
This study compared processes and outcomes of care provided to older patients with diabetes by primary care teams composed of only primary care physicians (PCPs) versus team care that included nurse practitioners (NPs) or physician assistants (PAs). The authors studied 3,524 primary care practices identified via social network analysis and 306,741 patients aged 66 and older diagnosed with diabetes mellitus in or before 2015 from Medicare data. Outcomes looked for was more adherence to guideline-recommended care including eye examination, hemoglobin A1c test, and nephropathy monitoring. Preventable hospitalizations and high-risk medication prescribing rates were also measured. Patients in the team care practices received more guideline-recommended diabetes care than patients in PCP only teams. Patients in team care practices had a slightly higher likelihood of being prescribed high-risk medications. The likelihood of preventable hospitalizations was similar among all types of practices.
AHRQ-funded; HS020642.
Citation: Guo F, Lin YL, Raji M .
Processes and outcomes of diabetes mellitus care by different types of team primary care models.
PLoS One 2020 Nov 5;15(11):e0241516. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241516..
Keywords: Elderly, Teams, Primary Care: Models of Care, Healthcare Delivery, Outcomes, Care Coordination, Practice Patterns
Kaye DR, Luckenbaugh AN, Oerline M
Understanding the costs associated with surgical care delivery in the Medicare population.
This study’s objective was to quantify the costs of inpatient and outpatient surgery in the Medicare population. Claims data from a 20% national sample of Medicare beneficiaries was used. Results showed that, while spending on inpatient surgery contributed the most to total surgical payments, it declined over the study period, driven by decreases in index hospitalization and readmissions payments. In contrast, spending on outpatient surgery increased across all sites of care (hospital outpatient department, physician office, and ambulatory surgery center). Ophthalmology and hand surgery witnessed the greatest growth in surgical spending over the study period. Surgical care accounts for half of all Medicare spending.
AHRQ-funded; HS024525; HS024728.
Citation: Kaye DR, Luckenbaugh AN, Oerline M .
Understanding the costs associated with surgical care delivery in the Medicare population.
Ann Surg 2020 Jan;271(1):23-28. doi: 10.1097/sla.0000000000003165..
Keywords: Surgery, Healthcare Delivery, Healthcare Costs, Medicare, Elderly, Hospitalization
Makam AN, Tran T, Miller ME
The clinical course after long-term acute care hospital admission among older Medicare beneficiaries.
Investigators sought to examine the clinical course after long-term acute care (LTAC) admission. They found that hospitalized older adults transferred to LTAC hospitals had poor survival, spent most of their remaining life as an inpatient, and frequently underwent life-prolonging procedures. This prognostic understanding is essential to inform goals of care discussions and to prioritize healthcare needs for these adults. Given the exceedingly low rates of palliative care consultations, they recommend future research to examine unmet palliative care needs in this population.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Makam AN, Tran T, Miller ME .
The clinical course after long-term acute care hospital admission among older Medicare beneficiaries.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2019 Nov;67(11):2282-88. doi: 10.1111/jgs.16106..
Keywords: Elderly, Medicare, Palliative Care, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Outcomes, Care Management, Healthcare Delivery
Gillespie SM, Wasserman EB, Wood NE
High-intensity telemedicine reduces emergency department use by older adults with dementia in senior living communities.
Individuals with dementia have high rates of emergency department (ED) use for acute illnesses. In this study, the investigators evaluated the effect of a high-intensity telemedicine program that delivered care for acute illnesses on ED use rates for individuals with dementia residing in senior living communities (SLCs; independent and assisted living).
AHRQ-funded; HS018047.
Citation: Gillespie SM, Wasserman EB, Wood NE .
High-intensity telemedicine reduces emergency department use by older adults with dementia in senior living communities.
J Am Med Dir Assoc 2019 Aug;20(8):942-46. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2019.03.024..
Keywords: Elderly, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Dementia, Neurological Disorders, Healthcare Delivery, Chronic Conditions, Emergency Department, Healthcare Utilization
Orth J, Li Y, Simning A
Providing behavioral health services in nursing homes is difficult: findings from a national survey.
This study evaluated access to behavioral health services in nursing homes (NHs). A random sample of 2996 NHs in the United States was identified. Two structured surveys were developed with questions on service availability, quality, satisfaction, staffing, staff education, turnover and service barriers. The surveys were mailed to administrators and directors of nursing in NHs between July and December 2017. The results showed that over 30% reported having inadequate coordination of care between NHs and community providers, and 26.2% had inadequate infrastructure for resident referrals or transport. Staff education was the most important factor associated with subpar provision of behavioral health services in nursing homes.
AHRQ-funded; HS024923.
Citation: Orth J, Li Y, Simning A .
Providing behavioral health services in nursing homes is difficult: findings from a national survey.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2019 Aug;67(8):1713-17. doi: 10.1111/jgs.16017..
Keywords: Elderly, Nursing Homes, Behavioral Health, Access to Care, Long-Term Care, Healthcare Delivery
Fabius CD, Robison J
Differences in living arrangements among older adults transitioning into the community: examining the impact of race and choice.
The federal Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration program allows nursing home residents to use Medicaid funds for home and community-based services rather than institutional care. Race, choice in housing, and challenges faced prior to transitioning may impact living arrangements following a discharge into the community. This study examined the influence of these factors on living arrangements for 659 program participants age 65 or older.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: Fabius CD, Robison J .
Differences in living arrangements among older adults transitioning into the community: examining the impact of race and choice.
J Appl Gerontol 2019 Apr;38(4):454-78. doi: 10.1177/0733464816687496..
Keywords: Elderly, Transitions of Care, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Medicaid, Nursing Homes, Home Healthcare, Healthcare Delivery
Bustamante AV, Martinez A, Rich J
Comparing costs of a senior wellness care redesign in group and independent physician practices of an accountable care organization.
Primary care redesign for older adult patients is currently ongoing in countries with aging populations. One of the main challenges of this type of transformations is how to estimate implementation costs in different types of health care delivery organizations. This study compares start-up and incremental expenses of implementing a primary care redesign across 2 organization types.
AHRQ-funded; HS022634.
Citation: Bustamante AV, Martinez A, Rich J .
Comparing costs of a senior wellness care redesign in group and independent physician practices of an accountable care organization.
Int J Health Plann Manage 2019 Jan;34(1):241-50. doi: 10.1002/hpm.2622..
Keywords: Elderly, Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Delivery, Primary Care
Zhou M, Oakes AH, Bridges JFP
Regional supply of medical resources and systemic overuse of health care among Medicare beneficiaries.
The goal of this study was to explore health care system factors associated with regional variation in overuse of resources, as measured by the Johns Hopkins Overuse Index (JHOI). Medicare fee-for-service claims data from beneficiaries age 65 was used to calculate the JHOI for 306 hospital referral regions in the U.S. Regions with a higher density of primary care physicians had a lower JHOI, which indicates less systemic overuse. Regional characteristics associated with higher JHOI included the number of acute care hospital beds per 1000 residents and number of hospital-based anesthesiologists, pathologists, and radiologists. The authors conclude that regional variations in health care resources are associated with the level of systemic overuse of health care, and that the role of primary care doctors in reducing overuse deserves further attention.
AHRQ-funded; T32 HS000029.
Citation: Zhou M, Oakes AH, Bridges JFP .
Regional supply of medical resources and systemic overuse of health care among Medicare beneficiaries.
J Gen Intern Med 2018 Dec;33(12):2127-31. doi: 10.1007/s11606-018-4638-9..
Keywords: Access to Care, Elderly, Healthcare Delivery, Healthcare Utilization, Medicare, Practice Patterns
Danila MI, Outman RC, Rahn EJ
Evaluation of a multimodal, direct-to-patient educational intervention targeting barriers to osteoporosis care: a randomized clinical trial.
Osteoporosis treatment rates are declining, even among those with past fractures. Novel, low-cost approaches are needed to improve osteoporosis care. In this study, the investigators conducted a parallel group, controlled, randomized clinical trial evaluating a behavioral intervention for improving osteoporosis medication use. They found that the primary study outcome was self-report of osteoporosis medication use at 6 months. Other outcomes included calcium and vitamin D supplementation, bone mineral density (BMD) testing, readiness for behavioral change, and barriers to treatment.
AHRQ-funded; HS023009.
Citation: Danila MI, Outman RC, Rahn EJ .
Evaluation of a multimodal, direct-to-patient educational intervention targeting barriers to osteoporosis care: a randomized clinical trial.
J Bone Miner Res 2018 May;33(5):763-72. doi: 10.1002/jbmr.3395..
Keywords: Care Management, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Elderly, Healthcare Delivery, Osteoporosis
Callahan CM, Bateman DR, Wang S
State of science: bridging the science-practice gap in aging, dementia and mental health.
This article describes why new models of care in aging, dementia, and mental health diffuse inadequately into the healthcare systems and communities where they might benefit older adults. The investigators review a general framework for the diffusion of innovations and highlight the importance of other features of innovations that deter or facilitate diffusion.
AHRQ-funded; HS024384.
Citation: Callahan CM, Bateman DR, Wang S .
State of science: bridging the science-practice gap in aging, dementia and mental health.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2018 Apr;66(Suppl 1):S28-s35. doi: 10.1111/jgs.15320..
Keywords: Elderly, Dementia, Behavioral Health, Healthcare Delivery, Neurological Disorders, Implementation, Evidence-Based Practice
Turner AM, Osterhage K, Loughran J
Emergency information management needs and practices of older adults: a descriptive study.
The purpose of this study was to better understand how older adults manage emergency information, the barriers and facilitators to planning and management of emergency information, as well as the potential role of information technology to facilitate emergency planning and management. The investigators found that emergency information, such as emergency contact information, diagnoses, and advance directives, is a type of health information that older adults manage.
AHRQ-funded; HS022106.
Citation: Turner AM, Osterhage K, Loughran J .
Emergency information management needs and practices of older adults: a descriptive study.
Int J Med Inform 2018 Mar;111:149-58. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2017.12.001..
Keywords: Care Coordination, Elderly, Health Information Technology (HIT), Healthcare Delivery, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Berridge C
Medicaid becomes the first third-party payer to cover passive remote monitoring for home care: policy analysis.
This study examined passive remote monitoring technologies in state Medicaid programs. Its goals were to identify which states allowed location tracking, sensor systems, and cameras, what policies were in place to track usage, what implementation processes and program monitoring mechanisms were in place, and what related insights Medicaid program stakeholders would like to learn. Interviews were conducted with state, federal, and managed care organization (MCO) Medicaid program stakeholders about the use of these technologies in state waivers that served community-dwelling older adults in 15 states. While two-thirds of the states covered location tracking and activity-monitoring sensors and one-third covered cameras, only 3 states had specific service categories that allowed tracking of when they pay for these technologies. The authors conclude that technologies that have great potential to alter the way older adults receive supportive services are often used without research on their use, social or ethical implications, or outcomes. New service categories are needed to enable oversight, and more interaction between policymakers and researchers in this field would aid in the prioritization of research aims to inform practice.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: Berridge C .
Medicaid becomes the first third-party payer to cover passive remote monitoring for home care: policy analysis.
J Med Internet Res 2018 Feb 21;20(2):e66. doi: 10.2196/jmir.9650..
Keywords: Elderly, Health Information Technology (HIT), Health Insurance, Healthcare Delivery, Home Healthcare, Medicaid, Policy
Khandelwal N, Curtis JR, Freedman VA
How often is end-of-life care in the United States inconsistent with patients' goals of care?
The purpose of this study was to document the proportion of bereaved respondents who reported care inconsistent with patients' wishes and characterize the predictors of end-of-life care associated with inconsistent care. The study found that one in eight respondents stated care in the last months of life was inconsistent with patients' wishes; such care was associated with worse ratings of care, pain management, and communication with clinicians.
AHRQ-funded; HS022982.
Citation: Khandelwal N, Curtis JR, Freedman VA .
How often is end-of-life care in the United States inconsistent with patients' goals of care?
J Palliat Med 2017 Dec;20(12):1400-04. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2017.0065..
Keywords: Care Management, Healthcare Delivery, Elderly, Palliative Care, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Quality of Care
Xue Y, Goodwin JS, Adhikari D
Trends in primary care provision to Medicare beneficiaries by physicians, nurse practitioners, or physician assistants: 2008-2014.
This study documented the temporal trends in alternative primary care models in which physicians, nurse practitioners (NPs), or physician assistants (PAs) engaged in care provision to the elderly, and examined the role of these models in serving elders with multiple chronic conditions. It found a decrease in the physician model and an increase in the shared care model and NP/PA model from 2008 to 2014.
AHRQ-funded; HS020642; HS022134.
Citation: Xue Y, Goodwin JS, Adhikari D .
Trends in primary care provision to Medicare beneficiaries by physicians, nurse practitioners, or physician assistants: 2008-2014.
J Prim Care Community Health 2017 Oct;8(4):256-63. doi: 10.1177/2150131917736634.
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Keywords: Chronic Conditions, Elderly, Healthcare Delivery, Primary Care, Medicare
Rocque GB, Pisu M, Jackson BE
Resource use and Medicare costs during lay navigation for geriatric patients with cancer.
This study examined the influence of lay navigation on health care spending and resource use among geriatric patients with cancer within The University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System Cancer Community Network. It found that, compared with a matched comparison group, the mean total costs declined by $781.29 more per quarter per navigated patient, for an estimated $19 million decline per year across the network.
AHRQ-funded; HS023009.
Citation: Rocque GB, Pisu M, Jackson BE .
Resource use and Medicare costs during lay navigation for geriatric patients with cancer.
JAMA Oncol 2017 Jun;3(6):817-25. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2016.6307.
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Keywords: Elderly, Cancer, Healthcare Costs, Medicare, Patient and Family Engagement, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Healthcare Delivery
Maciejewski ML, Hammill BG, Bayliss EA
Prescriber continuity and disease control of older adults.
The objective of this study was to examine whether glycemic control or lipid control was associated with the number of prescribers of cardiometabolic medications. It concluded that multiple prescribers were associated with worse disease control, possibly because patients with more severe diabetes or dyslipidemia have multiple prescribers or because care fragmentation is associated with worse disease control.
AHRQ-funded; HS023085.
Citation: Maciejewski ML, Hammill BG, Bayliss EA .
Prescriber continuity and disease control of older adults.
Med Care 2017 Apr;55(4):405-10. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000000658.
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Keywords: Elderly, Medication, Diabetes, Patient Adherence/Compliance, Healthcare Delivery
Quintana Y, Crotty B, Fahy D
InfoSAGE: use of online technologies for communication and elder care.
To identify how information and communication needs evolved with the aging process, the study authors created a living laboratory of families, supported by an online private social network with tools for care coordination.
AHRQ-funded; HS021495.
Citation: Quintana Y, Crotty B, Fahy D .
InfoSAGE: use of online technologies for communication and elder care.
Stud Health Technol Inform 2017;234:280-85..
Keywords: Care Coordination, Healthcare Delivery, Communication, Elderly, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Thomas KS
The relationship between Older Americans Act in-home services and low-care residents in nursing homes.
This study examining the relationship between the proportion of older adults in a State who receive in-home services funded by the Older Americans Act and the proportion of residents in nursing homes finds that for every additional 1 percent of the 65+ population that receives personal care services, there is a 0.8% decrease in the proportion of low-care residents in nursing homes.
AHRQ-funded; HS00011
Citation: Thomas KS .
The relationship between Older Americans Act in-home services and low-care residents in nursing homes.
J Aging Health. 2014 Mar;26(2):250-60. doi: 10.1177/0898264313513611..
Keywords: Elderly, Long-Term Care, Home Healthcare, Nursing Homes, Healthcare Delivery
Shah MN, Gillespie SM, Wood N
High-intensity telemedicine-enhanced acute care for older adults: an innovative healthcare delivery model.
This article describes an innovative healthcare model that uses high-intensity telemedicine services to provide rapid acute care for older adults without requiring them to leave their senior living community (SLC) residences. The project demonstrated that high-intensity telemedicine services for acute illnesses are feasible and acceptable and can provide definitive care without requiring ED or urgent care use.
AHRQ-funded; HS018047.
Citation: Shah MN, Gillespie SM, Wood N .
High-intensity telemedicine-enhanced acute care for older adults: an innovative healthcare delivery model.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2013 Nov;61(11):2000-7. doi: 10.1111/jgs.12523..
Keywords: Elderly, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Healthcare Delivery, Long-Term Care
Shah MN, Morris D, Jones CM
A qualitative evaluation of a telemedicine-enhanced emergency care program for older adults.
The purpose of this study was to document the experiences of patients, their caregivers, healthcare personnel, and staff members with a program that provides telemedicine-enhanced emergency care to older adults residing in senior living communities (SLCs) and to delineate perceived barriers and facilitators. The authors concluded that telemedicine-enhanced emergency care is an acceptable method of providing emergency care to older adults in SLCs.
AHRQ-funded; HS018047.
Citation: Shah MN, Morris D, Jones CM .
A qualitative evaluation of a telemedicine-enhanced emergency care program for older adults.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2013 Apr;61(4):571-6. doi: 10.1111/jgs.12157..
Keywords: Elderly, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Emergency Department, Healthcare Delivery, Long-Term Care