scholarly journals Post-discharge acute care and outcomes following readmission reduction initiatives: national retrospective cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries in the United States

BMJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. l6831 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rohan Khera ◽  
Yongfei Wang ◽  
Susannah M Bernheim ◽  
Zhenqiu Lin ◽  
Harlan M Krumholz
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Heart Failure ◽  
Acute Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Acute Care ◽  
The United States ◽  
Care Utilization ◽  
Post Discharge ◽  
Observation Units ◽  
Acute Care Utilization

Abstract Objectives To determine whether patients discharged after hospital admissions for conditions covered by national readmission programs who received care in emergency departments or observation units but were not readmitted within 30 days had an increased risk of death and to evaluate temporal trends in post-discharge acute care utilization in inpatient units, emergency departments, and observation units for these patients. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Medicare claims data for 2008-16 in the United States. Participants Patients aged 65 or older admitted to hospital with heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, or pneumonia—conditions included in the US Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program. Main outcome measures Post-discharge 30 day mortality according to patients’ 30 day acute care utilization; acute care utilization in inpatient and observation units and the emergency department during the 30 day and 31-90 day post-discharge period. Results 3 772 924 hospital admissions for heart failure, 1 570 113 for acute myocardial infarction, and 3 131 162 for pneumonia occurred. The overall post-discharge 30 day mortality was 8.7% for heart failure, 7.3% for acute myocardial infarction, and 8.4% for pneumonia. Risk adjusted mortality increased annually by 0.05% (95% confidence interval 0.02% to 0.08%) for heart failure, decreased by 0.06% (−0.09% to −0.04%) for acute myocardial infarction, and did not significantly change for pneumonia. Specifically, mortality increased for patients with heart failure who did not utilize any post-discharge acute care, increasing at a rate of 0.08% (0.05% to 0.12%) per year, exceeding the overall absolute annual increase in post-discharge mortality in heart failure, without an increase in mortality in observation units or the emergency department. Concurrent with a reduction in 30 day readmission rates, stays for observation and visits to the emergency department increased across all three conditions during and beyond the 30 day post-discharge period. Overall 30 day post-acute care utilization did not change significantly. Conclusions The only condition with increasing mortality through the study period was heart failure; the increase preceded the policy and was not present among patients who received emergency department or observation unit care without admission to hospital. During this period, the overall acute care utilization in the 30 days after discharge significantly decreased for heart failure and pneumonia, but not for acute myocardial infarction.

scholarly journals Post-discharge Acute Care and Outcomes in the Era of Readmission Reduction

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rohan Khera ◽  
Yongfei Wang ◽  
Susannah M. Bernheim ◽  
Zhenqiu Lin ◽  
Harlan M. Krumholz
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Acute Care ◽  
Care Utilization ◽  
Post Discharge ◽  
Readmission Rates ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Observation Units ◽  
Acute Care Utilization ◽  
Significant Change

ABSTRACTBackgroundWith incentives to reduce readmission rates, there are concerns that patients who need hospitalization after a recent hospital discharge may be denied access, which would increase their risk of mortality.ObjectiveWe determined whether patients with hospitalizations for conditions covered by national readmission programs who received care in emergency department (ED) or observation units but were not hospitalized within 30 days had an increased risk of death. We also evaluated temporal trends in post-discharge acute care utilization in inpatient units, emergency department (ED) and observation units for these patients.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsIn this observational study, national Medicare claims data for 2008-2016, we identified patients ≥65 years hospitalized with heart failure (HF), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), or pneumonia, conditions included in the HRRP.Main Outcomes and MeasuresPost-discharge 30-day mortality according to patients’ 30-day acute care utilization. Acute care utilization in inpatient and observation units, and the ED during the 30-day and 31-90-day post-discharge period.ResultsThere were 3,772,924 hospitalizations for HF, 1,570,113 for AMI, and 3,131,162 for pneumonia. The overall post-discharge 30-day mortality was 8.7% for HF, 7.3% for AMI, and 8.4% for pneumonia. Post-discharge mortality increased annually by 0.16% (95% CI, 0.11%, 0.22%) for HF, decreased by 0.15% (95% CI, -0.18%, -0.12%) for AMI, and did not significantly change for pneumonia. Specifically, mortality only increased for HF patients who did not utilize any post-discharge acute care, increasing at a rate of 0.16% per year (95% CI, 0.11%, 0.22%), accounting for 99% of the increase in post-discharge mortality in heart failure. Concurrent with a reduction in 30-day readmission rates, 30-day observation stays and visits to the ED increased across all 3 conditions during and beyond the post-discharge 30-day period. There was no significant change in overall 30-day post-acute care utilization (P-trend >0.05 for all).Conclusions and RelevanceThe only condition with an increasing mortality through the study period was HF; the increase preceded the policy and was not present among those received ED or observation unit care without hospitalization. Overall, during this period, there was not a significant change in the overall 30-day post-discharge acute care utilization.

scholarly journals Hospital revisits within 30 days after discharge for medical conditions targeted by the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program in the United States: national retrospective analysis

BMJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. l4563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rishi K Wadhera ◽  
Karen E Joynt Maddox ◽  
Dhruv S Kazi ◽  
Changyu Shen ◽  
Robert W Yeh
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Heart Failure ◽  
Acute Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Hospital Readmissions ◽  
The United States ◽  
Medical Conditions ◽  
Total Hospital ◽  
Reduction Program ◽  
Hospital Stays

AbstractObjectiveTo determine any changes in total hospital revisits within 30 days of discharge after a hospital stay for medical conditions targeted by the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP).DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingHospital stays among Medicare patients for heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, or pneumonia between 1 January 2012 and 1 October 2015.ParticipantsMedicare fee-for-service patients aged 65 or over.Main outcomesTotal hospital revisits within 30 days of discharge after hospital stays for medical conditions targeted by the HRRP, and by type of revisit: treat-and-discharge visit to an emergency department, observation stay (not leading to inpatient readmission), and inpatient readmission. Patient subgroups (age, sex, race) were also evaluated for each type of revisit.ResultsOur study cohort included 3 038 740 total index hospital stays from January 2012 to September 2015: 1 357 620 for heart failure, 634 795 for acute myocardial infarction, and 1 046 325 for pneumonia. Counting all revisits after discharge, the total number of hospital revisits per 100 patient discharges for target conditions increased across the study period (monthly increase 0.023 visits per 100 patient discharges (95% confidence interval 0.010 to 0.035)). This change was due to monthly increases in treat-and-discharge visits to an emergency department (0.023 (0.015 to 0.032) and observation stays (0.022 (0.020 to 0.025)), which were only partly offset by declines in readmissions (−0.023 (−0.035 to −0.012)). Increases in observation stay use were more pronounced among non-white patients than white patients. No significant change was seen in mortality within 30 days of discharge for target conditions (−0.0034 (−0.012 to 0.0054)).ConclusionsIn the United States, total hospital revisits within 30 days of discharge for conditions targeted by the HRRP increased across the study period. This increase was due to a rise in post-discharge emergency department visits and observation stays, which exceeded the decline in readmissions. Although reductions in readmissions have been attributed to improvements in discharge planning and care transitions, our findings suggest that these declines could instead be because hospitals and clinicians have intensified efforts to treat patients who return to a hospital within 30 days of discharge in emergency departments and as observation stays.

scholarly journals National Trends in Emergency Department Care Processes for Acute Myocardial Infarction in the United States, 2005 to 2015

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (20) ◽  
Author(s):  
Akshay Pendyal ◽  
Craig Rothenberg ◽  
Jean E. Scofi ◽  
Harlan M. Krumholz ◽  
Basmah Safdar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Acute Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Real World ◽  
The United States ◽  
Emergency Department Care ◽  
Care Processes ◽  
Ed Visits

Background Despite investments to improve quality of emergency care for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), few studies have described national, real‐world trends in AMI care in the emergency department (ED). We aimed to describe trends in the epidemiology and quality of AMI care in US EDs over a recent 11‐year period, from 2005 to 2015. Methods and Results We conducted an observational study of ED visits for AMI using the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, a nationally representative probability sample of US EDs. AMI visits were classified as ST‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non‐STEMI. Outcomes included annual incidence of AMI, median ED length of stay, ED disposition type, and ED administration of evidence‐based medications. Annual ED visits for AMI decreased from 1 493 145 in 2005 to 581 924 in 2015. Estimated yearly incidence of ED visits for STEMI decreased from 1 402 768 to 315 813. The proportion of STEMI sent for immediate, same‐hospital catheterization increased from 12% to 37%. Among patients with STEMI sent directly for catheterization, median ED length of stay decreased from 62 to 37 minutes. ED administration of antithrombotic and nonaspirin antiplatelet agents rose for STEMI (23%–31% and 10%–27%, respectively). Conclusions National, real‐world trends in the epidemiology of AMI in the ED parallel those of clinical registries, with decreases in AMI incidence and STEMI proportion. ED care processes for STEMI mirror evolving guidelines that favor high‐intensity antiplatelet therapy, early invasive strategies, and regionalization of care.

scholarly journals The Association Between Patient-reported Clinical Factors and 30-day Acute Care Utilization in Chronic Heart Failure

Medical Care ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 336-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinying Chen ◽  
Rajani Sadasivam ◽  
Amanda C. Blok ◽  
Christine S. Ritchie ◽  
Catherine Nagawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Chronic Heart Failure ◽  
Acute Care ◽  
Care Utilization ◽  
Clinical Factors ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Acute Care Utilization

Factors Influencing Emergency Department Utilization and Hospital Re-Admissions in a Predominantly Obese, Racially Diverse Urban Renal Transplant Population

2020 ◽  
pp. 152692482097859
Author(s):  
Alicia B. Lichvar ◽  
Alisha Patel ◽  
Dana Pierce ◽  
Renee Petzel Gimbar ◽  
Ivo Tzvetanov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Renal Transplantation ◽  
Renal Transplant ◽  
Acute Care ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Care Utilization ◽  
Renal Transplant Recipients ◽  
Transplant Recipients ◽  
Acute Care Utilization

Introduction: Early emergency department and hospital re-admissions are common in renal transplant recipients, but data are lacking in unique populations. Study Aim: The purpose of this study was to identify patient risk factors for multiple acute care utilization events within the first year of renal transplantation. Design: This was a single-center, retrospective cohort study of adult renal transplant recipients between 9/2013-9/2016. Patients were compared across number of emergency department visits and by hospital re-admissions. Diagnoses were categorized. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to assess risk for multiple acute care utilization events within the first 12 months post-transplant. Results: A total of 216 patients were analyzed and were on average 50.5 (SD 13.9) years old, redominantly Black (49.77%) with an average body mass index of 33.33 (9.8) and were recipients of deceased donor renal transplants (61.11%). A total of 105 (48.6%) patients visited the emergency epartment and 119 (55.1%) patients had a hospital readmission. Patients having a body mass index >35 kg/m2 did not differ across emergency department visit or hospitalization groups. Delayed graft function (OR 2.86, 95% CI 1.07-7.65) and previous renal transplant (OR 2.77, 95% CI 1.04-7.39) were significantly associated with multiple acute care utilizations. Discussion: Acute care utilization following renal transplantation was similar to previously reported experiences. Obesity did not impact use of acute care resources or patient outcomes. Strategies addressing potential preventable emergency visits and hospital re-dmissions should be promoted.

Abstract 14: Regional Cardiologist Density and 30-Day and 1-Year Mortality in Acute Myocardial Infarction and Heart Failure

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivek T Kulkarni ◽  
Joseph S Ross ◽  
Yongfei Wang ◽  
Brahmajee K Nallamothu ◽  
John A Spertus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Heart Failure ◽  
Acute Myocardial Infarction ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Lower Mortality ◽  
Administrative Claims ◽  
Physician Density ◽  
Hospital Referral

Background: Although the distribution of cardiologists and mortality for cardiovascular conditions are both known to vary across regions of the United States, no study has examined the relationship between regional cardiologist density and patient mortality for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or heart failure (HF). Methods: We used 2010 Medicare administrative claims data for AMI and HF. Pneumonia (PN) was used as a control condition. Primary outcomes were death at 30 days and 1 year from admission. For each Hospital Referral Region (HRR), we used the 2010 Bureau of Health Professionals’ Area Resource File to define cardiologist density (number of cardiologists divided by population aged 65+) and 4 HRR characteristics: primary care physician density, total physician density, unemployment rate, and percent white race. We used 2-level hierarchical logistic regression models to examine the association between cardiologist density by tertile and mortality for each condition adjusting for (Model A) patient age, sex, and condition-specific comorbidities, and (Model B) patient and HRR characteristics. Results: Median (interquartile range) cardiologist density per 100,000 in the low, middle, and high tertiles of HRRs was 26.3 (22.9-29.9), 38.6 (36.5-43.1), and 64.5 (54.4-85.3), respectively. There were 171,126 admissions for AMI, 352,853 for HF, and 343,053 for PN. The 30-day mortality rates were 15.3% (26,290), 11.7% (41,121), and 11.9% (40,906), and 1-year mortality rates were 32.1% (55,292), 40.4% (142,612), and 35.2% (120,666), respectively (Table). For 30-day mortality, while model A showed lower mortality with higher cardiologist density for all conditions (odds ratios (ORs): 0.84-0.95), model B showed no associations. For 1-year mortality, while model A showed lower mortality in the high cardiologist density tertile for AMI (OR=0.93) and HF (OR=0.91) and no associations for PN, model B showed no associations for AMI or HF and higher mortality with higher cardiologist density for PN (ORs=1.04-1.06). Conclusion: After adjusting for patient and HRR characteristics, regional cardiologist density was not associated with 30-day or 1-year mortality for AMI or HF, suggesting that the uneven regional distribution of cardiologists across the United States does not affect patient outcomes.

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