Lessons and Outcomes of Mobile Acute Care for Elders Consultation in a Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Abstract

OBJECTIVE Describe the implementation and effects of Mobile Acute Care for Elders (MACE) consultation at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC).

DESIGN Retrospective cohort analysis.

INTERVENTION Veterans aged 65 or older who were admitted to the medicine service between October 1, 2012, and September 30, 2014, were screened for geriatric syndromes via review of medical records within 48 hours of admission. If the screen was positive, the MACE team offered the admitting team a same‐day consultation involving comprehensive geriatric assessment and ongoing collaboration with the admitting team and supportive services to implement patient‐centric recommendations for geriatric syndromes.

RESULTS Veterans seen by MACE (n = 421) were compared with those with positive screens but without consultation (n = 372). The two groups did not significantly differ in age, comorbidity, sex, or race. All outcomes (30‐day readmission, 30‐day mortality, readmission costs) were in the expected direction for patients receiving MACE but did not reach statistical significance. Patients receiving MACE had lower odds of 30‐day readmission (11.9% vs 14.8%; odds ratio [OR] = 0.82; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.54‐1.25; p = .360) and 30‐day mortality (5.5% vs 8.6%; OR = 0.64; CI = 0.36‐1.12; p = .115), and they had lower 30‐day readmission costs (MACE $15,502; CI = $12,242‐$19,631; comparison = $18,335; CI = $14,641‐$22,962; p = .316) than those who did not receive MACE after adjusting for age and Charlson Comorbidity Index.

CONCLUSION Our MACE consultation model for older veterans with geriatric syndromes leverages the limited supply of clinicians with expertise in geriatrics. Although not statistically significant in this study of 793 subjects, MACE patients had lower odds of 30‐day readmission and mortality, and lower readmission costs.