Browsing by Subject "Transitional care"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    Attendance at a Transitional Liver Clinic May Be Associated with Reduced Readmissions for Patients with Liver Disease
    (Elsevier, 2022) Yoder, Lindsay; Mladenovic, Andrea; Pike, Francis; Vuppalanchi, Raj; Hanson, Haleigh; Corbito, Laura; Desai, Archita P.; Chalasani, Naga; Orman, Eric S.; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Introduction: Patients with liver disease have high rates of early hospital readmission, but there are no studies of effective, scalable interventions to reduce this risk. In this study, we examined the impact of a Physician Assistant (PA)-led post-discharge Transitional Liver Clinic (TLC) on hospital readmissions. Methods: We performed a cohort study of all adults seen by a hepatologist during admission to a tertiary care center in 2019 (excluding transplant patients). We compared those who attended the TLC with those who did not, with respect to 30-day readmission and mortality. Propensity score-adjusted modeling was used to control for confounding. Results: Of 498 patients, 98 were seen in the TLC; 35% had alcoholic liver disease and 58% had cirrhosis. Attendees were similar to non-attendees with respect to demographics, liver disease characteristics and severity, comorbidities, and discharge disposition. Thirty-day cumulative incidence of readmissions was 12% in TLC attendees, compared with 22% in non-attendees (P = .02), while 30-day mortality was similar (2.0% vs 4.3%; P = .29). In a model using propensity score adjustment, TLC attendance remained associated with reduced readmissions (subhazard ratio 0.52; 95% confidence interval, 0.27-0.997; P = .049). The effect of TLC was greater in women compared with men (P = .07) and in those without chronic kidney disease (P = .02), but there were no differences across other subgroups. Conclusions: Patients with liver disease seen in a PA-led TLC may have a significant reduction in the 30-day readmission rate. Randomized trials are needed to establish the efficacy of PA-led post-discharge transitional care for this population.
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    Design and Rationale of a Randomized Trial of a Care Transition Strategy in Patients With Acute Heart Failure Discharged From the Emergency Department: GUIDED-HF (Get With the Guidelines in Emergency Department Patients With Heart Failure).
    (American Heart Association, 2017-02) Fermann, Gregory J.; Levy, Phillip D.; Pang, Peter; Butler, Javed; Ayaz, S. Imran; Char, Douglas; Dunn, Pat; Jenkins, Cathy A.; Kampe, Christy; Khan, Yosef; Kumar, Vijaya A.; Lindenfeld, JoAnn; Liu, Dandan; Miller, Karen; Peacock, W. Frank; Rizk, Samaa; Robichaux, Chad; Rothman, Russell L.; Schrock, Jon; Singer, Adam; Sterling, Sarah A.; Storrow, Alan B.; Walsh, Cheryl; Wilburn, John; Collins, Sean P.; Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine
    GUIDED-HF (Get With the Guidelines in Emergency Department Patients With Heart Failure) is a multicenter randomized trial of a patient-centered transitional care intervention in patients with acute heart failure (AHF) who are discharged either directly from the emergency department (ED) or after a brief period of ED-based observation. To optimize care and reduce ED and hospital revisits, there has been significant emphasis on improving transitions at the time of hospital discharge for patients with HF. Such efforts have been almost exclusively directed at hospitalized patients; individuals with AHF who are discharged from the ED or ED-based observation are not included in these transitional care initiatives. Patients with AHF discharged directly from the ED or after a brief period of ED-based observation are randomly assigned to our transition GUIDED-HF strategy or standard ED discharge. Patients in the GUIDED arm receive a tailored discharge plan via the study team, based on their identified barriers to outpatient management and associated guideline-based interventions. This plan includes conducting a home visit soon after ED discharge combined with close outpatient follow-up and subsequent coaching calls to improve postdischarge care and avoid subsequent ED revisits and inpatient admissions. Up to 700 patients at 11 sites will be enrolled over 3 years of the study. GUIDED-HF will test a novel approach to AHF management strategy that includes tailored transitional care for patients discharged from the ED or ED-based observation. If successful, this program may significantly alter the current paradigm of AHF patient care.
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    Gains, losses, and uncertainties from computerizing referrals and consultations
    (Elsevier, 2020-11) Weiner, Michael; Savoy, April; Barker, Barry C.; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Consultations entail transitions in care between referrers and consultants, as patients visit different clinicians and care sites. This complex process has been consistently prone to communication breakdowns. Despite expectations and benefits of electronic health records (EHRs), incomplete, vague, or inappropriate referrals continue to hinder consultations; referrals can be sent to the wrong specialty service; and consultation findings frequently fail to reach referrers. Due to the inadequate support of interpersonal communication afforded by EHRs, these issues persist. Important aspects of ergonomics and human factors engineering frequently appear overlooked during the design and implementation of EHRs. Usability issues have contributed to delays in medical diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. Some of these delays contribute to patient harms. Our multidisciplinary team of clinicians and ergonomics professionals reflects on referral and consultation. We describe how computerization in healthcare should benefit from approaches informed and developed through applied ergonomics and human factors.
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    The need for specialized training for adults with congenital urologic conditions: differences in opinion among specialties
    (Panstwowy Zaklad Wydawnictw Lekarskich, 2020-03-23) Roth, Joshua; Elliott, Sean; Szymanski, Konrad; Cain, Mark; Misseri, Rosalia; Urology, School of Medicine
    Introduction: The aim of this study was to survey pediatric urology fellowship directors (PFD) and adult reconstruction fellowship directors (AFD) to assess who they believe has sufficient training to care for adults with congenital urologic conditions (ACUC). Material and methods: An online survey was created to assess attitudes towards specific training to care for ACUC. The survey was administered to 27 PFD and 26 AFD [16 from genitourinary reconstructive surgery (GURS) and 10 from female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery (FPMRS)]. Both groups were asked if specific training is warranted, and if general urologists, pediatric urologists or adult reconstructive urologists were sufficiently trained to care for ACUC. Results: A total of 26 (96%) PFD and 10 (39%) AFD completed the survey. All PFD were fellowship trained in pediatrics. Of the AFD, 5 were GURS trained, 4 were FPMRS trained and 1 was not fellowship trained. The majority (65% PFD, 90% AFD) believed specific training is warranted. Few believed general urologists have sufficient training (8% PFD, 20% AFD). Most PFD believed pediatric urologists have sufficient training (85%), but a minority believed those with adult reconstructive training do (40%). Conversely, a minority of AFD believed that pediatric urologists have sufficient training (40%), while those with adult reconstructive training do (FPMRS: 67%, GURS: 60%). Conclusions: Both pediatric and adult reconstructive urologists believe specific training to care for adults with congenital urologic conditions is warranted. Neither group considers the other to be ideally suited to care for this com
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    Troponin is unrelated to outcomes in heart failure patients discharged from the emergency department
    (Wiley, 2022-04-09) Fermann, Gregory J.; Schrock, Jon W.; Levy, Phillip D.; Pang, Peter; Butler, Javed; Chang, Anna Marie; Char, Douglas; Diercks, Deborah; Han, Jin H.; Hiestand, Brian; Hogan, Chris; Jenkins, Cathy A.; Kampe, Christy; Khan, Yosef; Kumar, Vijaya A.; Lee, Sangil; Lindenfeld, JoAnn; Liu, Dandan; Miller, Karen F.; Peacock, W. Frank; Reilly, Carolyn M.; Robichaux, Chad; Rothman, Russell L.; Self, Wesley H.; Singer, Adam J.; Sterling, Sarah A.; Storrow, Alan B.; Stubblefield, William B.; Walsh, Cheryl; Wilburn, John; Collins, Sean P.; Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine
    Background: Prior data has demonstrated increased mortality in hospitalized patients with acute heart failure (AHF) and troponin elevation. No data has specifically examined the prognostic significance of troponin elevation in patients with AHF discharged after emergency department (ED) management. Objective: Evaluate the relationship between troponin elevation and outcomes in patients with AHF who are treated and released from the ED. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of the Get with the Guidelines to Reduce Disparities in AHF Patients Discharged from the ED (GUIDED-HF) trial, a randomized, controlled trial of ED patients with AHF who were discharged. Patients with elevated conventional troponin not due to acute coronary syndrome (ACS) were included. Our primary outcome was a composite endpoint: time to 30-day cardiovascular death and/or heart failure-related events. Results: Of the 491 subjects included in the GUIDED-HF trial, 418 had troponin measured during the ED evaluation and 66 (16%) had troponin values above the 99th percentile. Median age was 63 years (interquartile range, 54-70), 62% (n = 261) were male, 63% (n = 265) were Black, and 16% (n = 67) experienced our primary outcome. There were no differences in our primary outcome between those with and without troponin elevation (12/66, 18.1% vs 55/352, 15.6%; P = 0.60). This effect was maintained regardless of assignment to usual care or the intervention arm. In multivariable regression analysis, there was no association between our primary outcome and elevated troponin (hazard ratio, 1.00; 95% confidence interval, 0.49-2.01, P = 0.994). Conclusion: If confirmed in a larger cohort, these findings may facilitate safe ED discharge for a group of patients with AHF without ACS when an elevated troponin is the primary reason for admission.