Articles tagged with Home Care
Foreign-educated and foreign-born health professionals fill critical gaps in the US healthcare workforce, particularly in primary care physicians and nursing positions. However, relying on these workers may reduce incentives for addressing healthcare workforce shortages and lead to instability.
The American Thoracic Society expert panel recommends that patients work with their providers to develop individualized action plans to prevent 'dyspnea crisis' episodes. These plans can include alternative relaxation and breathing techniques, medications, and oxygen therapy to ease symptoms.
A new study published in Pediatrics found that patients with cystic fibrosis experience no rapid decline in pulmonary function or other significant health-related changes when transitioning from pediatric to adult care. The study's results contradict previous reports on negative health outcomes after transition for other chronic childh...
The program aims to inform the public about aging concerns such as palliative care, healthcare abuses, and retirement challenges. The selected fellows will develop a major aging-focused story or series during GSA's annual scientific meeting in New Orleans.
Researchers found Medicare heart attack expenses increased by 16.5% overall, with significant growth in post-hospital care costs, including skilled nursing facilities and outpatient care. Mortality rates declined from 36% to 31.7% during this period.
A new study suggests that managed-care residents with advanced dementia are more likely to have a do-not-hospitalize order in place and fewer hospital transfers for acute illness. This research found no appreciable difference in survival outcomes between the managed care and fee-for-service groups.
Residents enrolled in managed care had more nursing home-based primary care visits and nurse practitioner visits, reducing hospital transfers. Survival rates did not differ between groups, but intensive primary care services may improve end-of-life care affordability.
Researchers found that certain personality characteristics, such as neuroticism and openness to experience, are correlated with increased use of expensive health care services like emergency room visits and nursing home stays. By understanding these patterns, healthcare providers can develop targeted interventions to reduce costs and i...
The American College of Physicians outlines a team-based model of healthcare with 13 principles to encourage effective teamwork and collaboration. Highly-functioning teams assign responsibility based on patient needs, prioritize culture, communication, and mutual respect.
A new study found that Minnesota's Performance-based Incentive Payment Program improves critical areas of nursing home care, including falls, quality of life, and rehospitalizations. The program promotes local solutions to local problems and focuses on provider-initiated and evidence-based practices.
A study found that nursing homes serving predominantly black residents tend to struggle financially and provide lower quality care, with black residents relying on Medicaid for reimbursement. The researchers suggest addressing the issue through financial incentives and restructuring Medicaid to provide better reimbursement rates.
A study published in Health Affairs found that nursing home consumer satisfaction scores are a valuable tool for informing consumer choice and rewarding homes for quality care. The study also found correlations between higher satisfaction scores and better staffing levels, fewer citations, and improved care.
A study found that home blood pressure telemonitoring with pharmacist management improved BP control and maintained it for 6 months. The intervention group had a higher proportion of patients with controlled BP at both 6- and 12-month visits compared to the usual care group.
A systematic review of studies on long-term-stay patients' care found that interdisciplinary teams involving the patient's own physician and a pharmacist had better odds of improving nursing home care quality. The review, published in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, highlights the importance of team-based car...
Children exposed to maternal depression are nearly twice as likely to develop emotional problems and separation anxiety symptoms. However, regular group-based child care attendance is linked to a more positive outcome for these children, including reduced chances of developing emotional problems.
The development of mobile-presence medical devices can help fill the void of limited healthcare infrastructure and access to medical professionals in remote locations. Pilot tests have successfully connected obstetricians with pregnant women in Bolivia, enabling real-time monitoring and diagnostic imaging.
A study of over 146,000 Dutch women found planned home births were associated with lower rates of severe maternal complications among parous women. However, first-time mothers showed no significant difference in risk.
A study by UCLA Center for Health Policy Research found that Californians with chronic conditions who have a regular doctor coordinating their care are more likely to get flu shots and receive preventive treatment. This 'medical home' model can help prevent chronic health conditions and reduce healthcare spending.
The AHRQ-funded journal supplement provides insights from 14 natural experiments on transforming primary care practice. Key findings highlight the importance of a strong foundation, visionary leadership, and contextual factors in achieving successful transformation towards the patient-centered medical home model.
Patients with blood clot-related strokes received better care at Get With The Guidelines-Stroke participating hospitals, which saw reduced 30-day and one-year mortality rates and re-hospitalizations compared to non-participating facilities.
A cluster randomized trial in Vietnam found community groups reduced neonatal mortality by half after three years, while also increasing antenatal care attendance. The study showed that community-based activities can be implemented at low cost and are effective in reducing neonatal mortality.
A study by Uppsala University researchers found that community-based activities in rural Vietnam reduced neonatal mortality rates to half those in control communes, with a significant increase in antenatal care attendance. The interventions were implemented over three years and showed promising results for reducing neonatal deaths.
A large randomised controlled trial found that exercise had no effect on reducing depression among frail elderly care home residents. Despite being well-received by residents and staff, the intervention failed to improve mental health or quality of life.
A new study introduces an automated decision-support system that enables care coordinators to track the health of older adults' brains and provide personalized care plans. The software captures and monitors various symptoms and provides evidence-based non-pharmacological protocols.
A small study of 20 people with Parkinson's disease found virtual house calls provide clinical benefits comparable to in-person physician office visits, saving patients and caregivers time and travel. The study also found no difference in quality-of-life changes between the two groups.
A new study reveals that small physician practices serving children are unprepared to become recognized as 'medical homes', which prioritize quality improvement and comprehensive care. This limitation may hinder efforts to improve healthcare for children, particularly those with higher medical needs.
A new RAND Corporation report highlights the challenges faced by military caregivers, who often toil long hours with little support. The study identifies broad areas where future work is needed to ensure these 'hidden heroes' receive recognition and addressed.
A recent study found that while more seniors are dying with hospice care than a decade ago, they are increasingly doing so for very few days right after being in intensive care. This suggests that palliative care often happens as an afterthought, and patients may not receive the full measure of comfort and psychological support they need.
A study analyzing Medicare claims data found a decrease in hospital deaths, but increased ICU stays and healthcare transitions in the last months of life. Hospice use increased from 21.6% to 42.2%, while short hospice stays grew, suggesting that increasing hospice use may not lead to reduced resource utilization.
Researchers at UCLA's Pediatric Medical Home will study ways to reduce preventable hospital admissions and emergency room use among children with medically complex illness, aiming to decrease healthcare expenditures. The study will analyze root causes of preventable hospitalizations and design cost-saving strategies.
A study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that patients receiving Guided Care rated their care quality higher than those in regular primary care, with 66% more likely to access telephone advice as excellent or very good.
The US healthcare system is a $2.5 trillion industry heavily reliant on the internet, making it a target for cyberterrorism. Experts predict a wave-like attack that could leave staff untrusting of electronic data and demoralize IT teams. To protect itself, the healthcare system must remain vigilant and implement better security measures.
A study published in Medical Care finds that negative news coverage of nursing homes outweighs positive stories by five to one. Negative articles often focus on negligence, fraud, or industry issues, while positive stories discuss quality of care and community impact.
A Brown University analysis found that states spending more on home-delivered meals under the Older Americans Act have fewer low-care nursing home residents. Home-based meals emerged as a statistically significant factor affecting state-to-state differences in low-care nursing home population.
A study of 1,268 elderly patients receiving home healthcare found that social environmental factors, particularly informal care provided by family members or caregivers, contribute to the risk of repeated hospital admissions. Patients with good social support are more likely to maintain their functional ability and remain at home.
A recent University of Michigan poll reveals that one-third of parents with young children in child care are worried about losing their job or pay due to missing work to care for sick kids. Finding alternative or back-up care is also difficult for nearly two-thirds of these parents.
A special supplement to Medical Care presents a progress report on the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) surveys, which capture patients' perspectives on healthcare. The CAHPS project aims to move beyond simple patient satisfaction surveys by asking patients about their experiences with health care services.
A home delivery of stroke rehabilitation program has resulted in improved cognition, communication, and physical function for people with stroke. The program has virtually eliminated waiting lists and saved approximately $1 million annually.
A study published in Archives of Internal Medicine found that nearly one-third of older adults used the Medicare posthospitalization skilled nursing facility benefit in their last six months of life. This high use of the SNF benefit for end-of-life care highlights the need to improve palliative care services in nursing homes.
A new study finds that only 42% of patients with advanced non-malignant conditions prefer to die at home, while living alone reduces the chance of home death. Providing professional home care support can increase the chances of dying at home, according to researchers.
A randomized controlled trial found that combining healing touch and guided imagery significantly improved PTSD symptoms in returning active-duty Marines. The study reported substantial clinical reductions in depression and cynicism, with scores decreasing by 14 points below the clinical cutoffs for PTSD diagnosis.
Hospital-initiated transitional care strategies reduce unnecessary health services use and improve patient outcomes for adults with acute stroke or myocardial infarction. Electronic record use, medication reconciliation, and shared follow-up planning also enhance patient transition from hospital to primary care.
A new study by the University of Chicago shows that 60 percent of grandparents provided some care for their grandchildren during a 10-year period. Grandparents with less income and less education are more likely to take on care for their grandchildren, highlighting the diversity in grandparent care.
A new study finds that out-of-pocket spending on healthcare in the last five years of life can account for a significant proportion of an individual's household assets. More than three-quarters of households spent at least $10,000 on healthcare costs, with some individuals contributing as much as their total household assets.
A new study reports that Medicare payment reforms mandated in the Affordable Care Act have great potential to lower costs without harming patients. The researchers found that previous payment reforms caused a steep downtick in postacute care costs immediately after implementation, but expenses quickly resumed their upward trend.
Experts say lack of privacy, safety fears and ageism deny elderly care home residents the right to consensual sex. Formal policies are needed to address this, despite research showing residents want their sexual expression acknowledged.
A survey of 3,800 home healthcare providers found that many agencies lack written policies on handling infection control for antibiotic-resistant infections. The study highlights the need for simple and quick actions like hand washing, vaccinations, and patient isolation to decrease infections in home care settings.
A new study finds that patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs) have higher per-patient operating costs, with additional expenses for personnel, technology, and quality improvement measures. The PCMH model aims to improve care quality and reduce wasteful spending, but its financial sustainability is threatened by these increased costs.
A study published in JAMA found that community health centers with higher patient-centered medical home ratings had higher operating costs. The study analyzed data from 1,009 federally funded health centers and found that a 10-point higher total PCMH score was associated with a $2.26 higher operating cost per patient per month.
A study found that nursing home staff cohesion improves care quality, leading to reduced incidence of incontinence and pressure ulcers. The research used data from over 45,000 residents in 162 facilities across New York State, revealing a significant association between staff cohesion and better health outcomes.
A multicenter study led by Johns Hopkins researcher Bruce Leff found that six geriatric health care delivery models improved quality of care while reducing medical costs. The study, published in Health Affairs, highlights the effectiveness of models such as NICHE and Pall. Care in improving patient-centered care and reducing costs.
The Johns Hopkins-developed program provides acute hospital-level care within a patient's home, resulting in lower costs and equal or better outcomes compared to traditional hospital inpatients. The study found Hospital at Home patients had slightly lower hospital readmission and mortality rates and higher satisfaction scores.
The university's School of Medicine will train and place additional psychiatrists, primary care physicians, advance practice nurses, dentists, and other practitioners to serve Medicaid beneficiaries. The program aims to expand healthcare workforce focused on Medicaid patients' needs.
Researchers developed STeleR, a home telerehabilitation program that improves lower body physical functioning after a stroke. Participating in STeleR also enhances money management skills and improves daily living abilities.
Researchers found that primary care-based management was comparable to specialist care in terms of ESS scores, FOSQ scores, and CPAP compliance. Home auto-titrating CPAP usage was also similar between the two groups. The study suggests a lower-cost alternative for OSA treatment, particularly beneficial for rural and remote regions.
A Bluetooth enabled fetal heart rate monitoring system has been developed for accurate long-term home care, showing a high level of accuracy compared to ultrasound-based Doppler shift technique, with 98% accuracy. The system is non-invasive, portable, and low power consumption, making it suitable for mothers-to-be.
Research presented at the American Heart Association's Quality of Care and Outcomes Research Scientific Sessions 2012 found that home telemonitoring with pharmacist-led support improved blood pressure control in patients with uncontrolled high blood pressure. The study, which involved 450 patients, showed a significant reduction in blo...
The 'From Clinic to Community' project aims to improve health outcomes for at-risk populations in Southeastern US counties. It combines modern technology with community-based healthcare professionals to address the triple aim of better outcomes, better care, and lower cost.
A family life study reveals that transitional events such as school transition, relationship changes, and home moves can trigger eating disorders in young people. Participants reported feeling lonely, unsupported, and lacking emotional support during these transitions, leading to the development of conditions like anorexia and bulimia.
Community health plans have broken down silos of care to coordinate among providers and directly engage with patients, leading to successful transitions. The Avalere report highlights five practices that facilitate care transition programs, including using data to tailor programs to patients' needs.