National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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Topics
- Access to Care (1)
- Adverse Drug Events (ADE) (1)
- Cardiovascular Conditions (2)
- Care Coordination (4)
- Chronic Conditions (1)
- Communication (2)
- Comparative Effectiveness (1)
- COVID-19 (1)
- Elderly (5)
- Evidence-Based Practice (1)
- Healthcare Delivery (1)
- Healthcare Utilization (1)
- Heart Disease and Health (1)
- Home Healthcare (1)
- Hospital Discharge (6)
- Hospital Readmissions (6)
- (-) Hospitals (16)
- Infectious Diseases (1)
- Long-Term Care (5)
- Medical Errors (1)
- Medicare (3)
- Medication (1)
- Medication: Safety (1)
- (-) Nursing Homes (16)
- Outcomes (1)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (1)
- Patient Experience (1)
- Patient Safety (2)
- Payment (1)
- Pneumonia (1)
- Provider Performance (1)
- Public Health (1)
- Quality Improvement (1)
- Quality Indicators (QIs) (1)
- Quality of Care (3)
- Rehabilitation (1)
- Stroke (1)
- Transitions of Care (7)
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 16 of 16 Research Studies DisplayedManges 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
Dean JM, Hreha K, Hong I
Post-acute care use patterns among hospital service areas by older adults in the United States: a cross-sectional study.
This study examined post-stroke acute care patterns across Hospital Service Areas among a national stroke cohort of Medicare beneficiaries to determine drivers of variation in post-acute care service utilization. Data was extracted from 2013 to 2014 (174,498 total records across 3232 Hospital Service Areas). Patients’ residence ZIP codes were linked to the facility ZIP code where care was received. Patients were considered a “traveler” if they did not live in the Hospital Service Area where they received care. Only 23.5% of all patients received care in skilled nursing-only Hospital Service Areas although 73.4% of all Hospital Service Areas were skilled nursing-only. Thirty-five percent of all patients traveled to a different Hospital Service Area from their residence. Patients living in skilled nursing-only Hospital Service Areas had more than 5 times the odds of traveling compared to those living in Hospital Service Areas with skilled nursing, inpatient rehabilitation, and long-term care hospital services.
AHRQ-funded; HS026133; HS024711.
Citation: Dean JM, Hreha K, Hong I .
Post-acute care use patterns among hospital service areas by older adults in the United States: a cross-sectional study.
BMC Health Serv Res 2021 Feb 25;21(1):176. doi: 10.1186/s12913-021-06159-z..
Keywords: Elderly, Hospitals, Access to Care, Stroke, Cardiovascular Conditions, Healthcare Utilization, Rehabilitation, Nursing Homes
Montoya A, Jenq G, Mills JP
Partnering with local hospitals and public health to manage COVID-19 outbreaks in nursing homes.
In this study, the authors described, among short-term and long-term residents at three nursing homes (NHs) in Michigan, the outbreak identification process, universal testing, point prevalence of COVID-19, and subsequent containment efforts, outcomes, and challenges. They found that proactive and coordinated steps between NH medical directors and administrators, referral hospitals including their laboratories, and local public health officials were necessary to respond rapidly to an outbreak and to limit the transmission of COVID-19. They suggested that this coordinated public health approach may save lives, minimize the burden to the healthcare system, and reduce healthcare costs.
AHRQ-funded; HS025451.
Citation: Montoya A, Jenq G, Mills JP .
Partnering with local hospitals and public health to manage COVID-19 outbreaks in nursing homes.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2021 Jan;69(1):30-36. doi: 10.1111/jgs.16869..
Keywords: Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Long-Term Care, Public Health, COVID-19, Elderly, Infectious Diseases
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
White EM, Kosar CM, Rahman M
Trends in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities sharing medical providers, 2008-16.
Hospitals and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) face increasing pressure to improve care coordination and reduce unnecessary readmissions. One strategy to accomplish this is to share physicians and advanced practice clinicians, so that the same providers see patients in both settings. Using 2008-16 Medicare claims, the investigators found that as SNFs moved increasingly toward using SNF specialists, there was a steady decline in the number of facilities sharing medical providers and in the proportion of SNF primary care delivered by provider practices with both hospital and SNF clinicians (hospital-SNF practices).
AHRQ-funded; T32 HS000011.
Citation: White EM, Kosar CM, Rahman M .
Trends in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities sharing medical providers, 2008-16.
Health Aff 2020 Aug;39(8):1312-20. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2019.01502..
Keywords: Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Care Coordination, Healthcare Delivery
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
Popescu I, Sood N, Joshi S
Trends in the use of skilled nursing facility and home health care under the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program: an interrupted time-series analysis.
Medicare's Hospital Readmission Reduction Program penalizes hospitals with elevated 30-day readmission rates for acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, or pneumonia. The authors investigated if, in order to reduce readmissions, hospitals may have increased referrals to skilled nursing facilities and home health care. They found that hospitals might be shifting to more intensive postacute care to avoid readmissions among seniors with pneumonia. At the same time, penalized hospitals' efforts to prevent readmissions may be keeping higher proportions of their patients in the community.
AHRQ-funded; HS024284; HS025394.
Citation: Popescu I, Sood N, Joshi S .
Trends in the use of skilled nursing facility and home health care under the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program: an interrupted time-series analysis.
Med Care 2019 Oct;57(10):757-65. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001184..
Keywords: Home Healthcare, Nursing Homes, Chronic Conditions, Hospital Readmissions, Long-Term Care, Hospitals, Heart Disease and Health, Pneumonia, Cardiovascular Conditions
Kim KL, LI L, Kuang M
Changes in hospital referral patterns to skilled nursing facilities under the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program.
The objective of this study was to investigate the association between changes in hospital referral patterns to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) penalty pressure. Results showed that HRRP did not prompt substantial changes in hospital referral patterns to SNFs, although readmissions for patients referred to SNFs differentially decreased more than for other patients, warranting investigation of other mechanisms underlying readmissions reduction.
AHRQ-funded; HS022882.
Citation: Kim KL, LI L, Kuang M .
Changes in hospital referral patterns to skilled nursing facilities under the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program.
Med Care 2019 Sep;57(9):695-701. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001169..
Keywords: Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Hospital Readmissions, Payment, Provider Performance
Campbell Britton M, Hodshon B, Chaudhry SI
Implementing a warm handoff between hospital and skilled nursing facility clinicians.
This study focused on increasing better communication during transfers from hospitals and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). Warm handoffs between hospital and SNF physicians was implemented. Participation in warm handoffs gradually increased – starting at 15.78% in stage 1 and increasing to 46.89% in stage 3. A total of 2417 patient discharges were included in this study.
AHRQ-funded; HS023554.
Citation: Campbell Britton M, Hodshon B, Chaudhry SI .
Implementing a warm handoff between hospital and skilled nursing facility clinicians.
J Patient Saf 2019 Sep;15(3):198-204. doi: 10.1097/pts.0000000000000529..
Keywords: Communication, Patient Safety, Hospital Discharge, Transitions of Care, Care Coordination, Hospitals, Nursing Homes
Bain AM, Werner RM, Yuan Y
Do hospitals participating in accountable care organizations discharge patients to higher quality nursing homes?
This study examined whether hospitals participating in Medicare's Shared Saving Program increased use of highly rated skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) or decreased the use of low-rated SNFs after initiation of accountable care organization (ACO) contracts, compared with non-ACO hospitals. The findings indicate that, after joining an ACO, the percentage of hospital discharges going to a high-quality SNF increased slightly; the probability of discharge from ACO-participating hospitals to low-quality SNFs did not change significantly in comparison with non-ACO hospitals.
AHRQ-funded; HS024266.
Citation: Bain AM, Werner RM, Yuan Y .
Do hospitals participating in accountable care organizations discharge patients to higher quality nursing homes?
J Hosp Med 2019 May;14(5):288-89. doi: 10.12788/jhm.3147..
Keywords: Elderly, Hospital Discharge, Hospitals, Medicare, Nursing Homes, Quality of Care
Agarwal D, Werner RM
Effect of hospital and post-acute care provider participation in accountable care organizations on patient outcomes and Medicare spending.
The purpose of this study was to test for differences in patient outcomes when hospital and post-acute care (PAC) providers participated in accountable care organizations (ACOs). The investigators concluded that hospital and skilled nursing facilities (SNF) participation in an ACO was associated with lower readmission rates, Medicare spending on SNF, and SNF length of stay.
AHRQ-funded; HS024266.
Citation: Agarwal D, Werner RM .
Effect of hospital and post-acute care provider participation in accountable care organizations on patient outcomes and Medicare spending.
Health Serv Res 2018 Dec;53(6):5035-56. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13023..
Keywords: Hospital Readmissions, Hospitals, Medicare, Nursing Homes, Outcomes
Makam AN, Nguyen OK, Xuan L
Factors associated with variation in long-term acute care hospital vs skilled nursing facility use among hospitalized older adults.
This study examined factors associated with variation in long-term acute care hospitals (LTACs) vs less costly skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) transfer among hospitalized older adults. It concluded that half of the variation in LTAC vs SNF transfer is independent of patients' illness severity or clinical complexity, and is explained by where the patient was hospitalized and in what region, with far greater use in the South.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Makam AN, Nguyen OK, Xuan L .
Factors associated with variation in long-term acute care hospital vs skilled nursing facility use among hospitalized older adults.
JAMA Intern Med 2018 Mar;178(3):399-405. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2017.8467.
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Keywords: Elderly, Long-Term Care, Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Transitions of Care
Kerstenetzky L, Birschbach MJ, Beach KF
Improving medication information transfer between hospitals, skilled-nursing facilities, and long-term-care pharmacies for hospital discharge transitions of care: a targeted needs assessment using the Intervention Mapping framework.
The authors of this study report on the development of a logic model that will be used to explore methods for minimizing patient care medication delays and errors while further improving handoff communication to skilled nurse facilities and long term care pharmacy staff.
AHRQ-funded; HS021984.
Citation: Kerstenetzky L, Birschbach MJ, Beach KF .
Improving medication information transfer between hospitals, skilled-nursing facilities, and long-term-care pharmacies for hospital discharge transitions of care: a targeted needs assessment using the Intervention Mapping framework.
Res Social Adm Pharm 2018 Feb;14(2):138-45. doi: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2016.12.013..
Keywords: Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Hospital Discharge, Hospitals, Long-Term Care, Medical Errors, Medication, Medication: Safety, Nursing Homes, Patient Safety, Transitions of Care
McHugh JP, Foster A, Mor V JP, Foster A, Mor V
Reducing hospital readmissions through preferred networks of skilled nursing facilities.
This study used a concurrent mixed-methods approach to examine changes in rehospitalization rates and differences in practices between hospitals that did and did not develop formal skilled nursing facilities (SNF) networks.
AHRQ-funded; HS023961.
Citation: McHugh JP, Foster A, Mor V JP, Foster A, Mor V .
Reducing hospital readmissions through preferred networks of skilled nursing facilities.
Health Aff 2017 Sep;36(9):1591-98. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2017.0211..
Keywords: Care Coordination, Hospital Readmissions, Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Transitions of Care
Mukamel DB, Amin A, Weimer DL
Personalizing nursing home compare and the discharge from hospitals to nursing homes.
This study tested whether use of a personalized report card, Nursing Home Compare Plus (NHCPlus), embedded in a reengineered discharge process, can lead to better outcomes than the usual discharge process from hospitals to nursing homes. It found that about 85 percent of users indicated satisfaction with NHCPlus. Compared to controls, intervention patients were more satisfied with the choice process.
AHRQ-funded; R21 HS021844.
Citation: Mukamel DB, Amin A, Weimer DL .
Personalizing nursing home compare and the discharge from hospitals to nursing homes.
Health Serv Res 2016 Dec;51(6):2076-94. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.12588.
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Keywords: Hospital Discharge, Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Patient Experience, Quality Indicators (QIs)
Thomas KS, Rahman M, Mor V
Influence of hospital and nursing home quality on hospital readmissions.
The authors sought to determine whether the quality of the hospital and of the nursing home (NH) to which a patient was discharged were related to the likelihood of rehospitalization. They found that patients discharged from higher-quality hospitals and patients who received care in higher-quality NHs were less likely to be rehospitalized within 30 days. They concluded that the passage of the Affordable Care Act changed the accountability of hospitals for patients' outcomes after discharge, and that their study highlights the joint accountability of hospitals and NHs for rehospitalization of patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: Thomas KS, Rahman M, Mor V .
Influence of hospital and nursing home quality on hospital readmissions.
Am J Manag Care 2014 Nov;20(11):e523-31.
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Keywords: Quality of Care, Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Hospital Readmissions