Emergency Room Utilization in the First 15 Months of Life: A Randomized Study

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1979 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 486-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nigel Paneth ◽  
Deborah Bell ◽  
Ruth E.K. Stein
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Emergency Room ◽  
Randomized Study ◽  
Group Analysis ◽  
Care Program ◽  
Pediatric Care ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Municipal Hospital ◽  
Primary Care Program ◽  
The Impact

The impact of a system of primary pediatric care on emergency room use in a municipal hospital was measured by comparing that use in two randomly selected populations. The population that was offered participation in a primary care program consistently used the emergency room less than did the control group. Analysis of the pattern of utilization revealed that the differences were limited to patients who actually participated in the program, and to weekday use of the emergency room. Unusually heavy (greater than ten visits per year) use of the emergency room was virtually eliminated among participants in the primary care program.

scholarly journals Effect of Age on Healthcare Utilization in Patients with Sickle Cell

Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 1019-1019
Author(s):  
Nicholas Hamilton ◽  
Payal Desai ◽  
Nita Williams ◽  
Mikaela D. Moore ◽  
Andrew I. Schamess
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Care Program ◽  
Care Utilization ◽  
Home Based Primary Care ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Primary Care Program ◽  
Acute Care Utilization ◽  
Ed Visits ◽  
The Impact

Background: The median life expectancy of patients with sickle cell disease surpassed 40 years of age in the last two decades. While sickle cell patients overall are known to have high utilization of health services due to vaso-occlusive pain crises (VOC), few studies have focused on the impact of age on utilization pattern. Due to this, our understanding of the patient population is frequently skewed based on data on younger patients. This study examines the utilization of healthcare in patients in two groups: below 40 years of age, and 40 years and over. We also examined the impact on these two cohorts of a home-based primary care program. Methods: All patients were enrolled in a home-based primary care program in which their primary care doctor visited their home every 4-6 weeks. Health utilization data were collected retrospectively, through chart review for one year prior to joining the home-based primary care program, and prospectively for one year after joining the program. Primary care appointments, reported crises, Sickle Cell Day Hospital visits, ED visits, admissions, 30-day readmissions, and total admission days were recorded. Results: A total of 30 patients was enrolled in the study, and 58 years of data were collected. There were 16 patients between 18 and 39, and 14 patients aged 40 and over. 50% of the 40 and over age group was SS genotype and 50% SC compared to only one patient in the below 40 population had genotype SC. The groups were not significantly different regarding gender distribution (57% female in the 40 and over population vs 50% female in the below 40 population). The 40 and over population had on average more comorbidities per patient. The 40 and over population had significantly more primary care visits every year both before and after the start of the home visits compared to the below 40 population,. The 40 and over population, also had significantly lower overall rates of acute care utilization than the patients under 40: number of crises, ED visits, admissions, 30-day readmissions, and total hospital admission days. When comparing pre and post home visiting within the 40 and older population, there was an increase in primary care visits and a decrease in in reported crises, ED visits, admissions and readmissions. There was no change in these parameters in the 18-39 year old patient group. Discussion: As sickle cell patients age, they are more likely to have cumulative co-morbidities due to their sickle cell disease. Despite their more advanced age and their increase in co-morbid conditions, patients 40 and above were shown in our study to have fewer ED visits and admissions than younger patients, and to further reduce ED visits and admissions when provided with home-based primary care. The younger group had higher utilization at baseline, and did not show improvement when receiving home-based primary care. The reduced acute care utilization in the older group could be due to increased use of primary care, which was further enhanced by enrollment in the home-based primary care program; better adherence to medical treatment; more skill and experience in disease self-management; better social support; or fewer vaso-occlusive crises despite a higher number of co-morbid conditions. The higher prevalence of SC disease in the older cohort is a possible confounder. Those patients with higher utilization at a younger age may be higher risk of mortality, thereby leading to a survivor effect in the older population. Research in the general medical population has shown that home-based primary care reduces acute care utilization in high-utilizing patients with multiple chronic conditions, but more research is needed on the impact in sickle cell patients. Conclusion: This is the first study, to our knowledge, of the impact of home-based primary care on adults with sickle cell disease. In this study, sickle cell patients aged 40 and under showed overall more acute care utilization than those over age 40. The older population had an increase in primary care visits, and overall a significant decrease in healthcare utilization after enrollment in the home visiting program. We did not see a significant decrease in utilization in the younger population with home visits. Disclosures Desai: Global Blood Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Ironwood: Other: Adjudication Board; University of Pittsburgh: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Potomac: Speakers Bureau.

scholarly journals Effects of the Interactive Web-Based Video “Mon Coeur, Mon BASIC” on Drug Adherence of Patients with Myocardial Infarction: A Randomized Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christel Bruggmann ◽  
Julien Adjedj ◽  
Sylvain Sardy ◽  
Olivier Muller ◽  
Pierre Voirol ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Room ◽  
Interactive Video ◽  
Randomized Study ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Drug Adherence ◽  
Emergency Room Visits ◽  
Web Based ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND Secondary prevention strategies after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) presentation with the use of drug combinations are essential to reduce the recurrence of cardiovascular events. However, the lack of drug adherence is known to be common in this population, and to be related to treatment failure. To improve drug adherence, we developed the “Mon Coeur, Mon BASIC” web-based interactive video to inform patients about ACS and their drug treatments. OBJECTIVE To assess the impact of the web-based video on drug adherence. METHODS This randomized study was conducted with consecutive patients admitted to Lausanne University Hospital for ACS. We randomized patients to an intervention group, which had access to the video, and a control group receiving usual care. The primary outcome was the difference in drug adherence, assessed with the Adherence to Refills and Medication Scale [ARMS; nine multiple-choice questions, scores ranging from 12 (perfect adherence) to 48 (lack of adherence)], between groups at 1, 3, and 6 months. We assessed the difference in ARMS score between both groups with Wilcoxon rank sum test. Secondary outcomes were differences in knowledge and readmissions and emergency room visits between groups, and patients’ satisfaction with the video. RESULTS Sixty patients were included at baseline. The median age of the participants was 59 (IQR 49–69) and 85% were male. At 1 month, 51 patients participated in the follow up, 50 patients participated at 3 months, and 47 patients participated at 6 months. The mean ARMS scores at 1 and 6 months did not differ between the intervention and control groups (13.24 and 13.15, 13.52 and 13.68, respectively). At 3 months, this score was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (12.54 vs. 13.75, P = .034). We observed significant increases in knowledge from baseline to 1 and 3 months, but not to 6 months, in the intervention group. Readmissions and emergency room visits have been very rare and the proportion was not different among groups. Patients in the intervention group were highly satisfied with the video. CONCLUSIONS The “Mon Coeur, Mon BASIC” web-based interactive video improved patients’ knowledge and seemed to have an impact on drug adherence. These results are encouraging, and the video will be offered to all patients admitted to our hospital with ACS. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03949608; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03949608

Effectiveness of a Primary Care Program to Increase Physical Activity in People With Dementia and Their Family Caregivers (AFISDEMYF Study).

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena DE DIOS-RODRIGUEZ ◽  
María C PATINO-ALONSO ◽  
Susana GONZÁLEZ-SÁNCHEZ ◽  
Joana RIPOLL ◽  
Olaya TAMAYO-MORALES ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Systolic Blood Pressure ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Care Program ◽  
Control Group ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
The Family

Abstract Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention in primary health care designed to increase physical activity in people with dementia and their family caregivers.Methods: A cluster-randomized multicentre clinical trial was carried out.Participants: 140 people with dementia (median age 82 years;63.6% women) and 176 caregivers (median age 62 years ;72.7% women). Seventy patients and 80 caregivers were assigned to the Control Group (CG) and 70 patients and 96 caregivers to the Intervention Group (IG). The physical activity was measured with the pedometer and with the IPAQ-SF questionnaire. The intervention consisted of applying in primary care the program promoting physical activity (PEPAF) for 3 months. The changes observed at 6 months were analyzed. Results:In people with dementia, in the pedometer assessment a decrease was observed in both groups, but it was larger in the CG both in the total number step/day lower in the IG than in the CG and in the aerobic steps / day (52.89 vs -615.93). The activity reported with the IPAQ-SF decreased more in IG, both in the MET/min/week (-258.470 vs -148.23) and in the MVPA min/week. In caregivers the pedometer assessment showed that total steps/day increased more in the IG, as did aerobic steps/day (356.91 vs -12.95). The IPAQ-SF a smaller increase in global activity was declared in the IG than in the CG (545.25 MET/min/week vs 609.55), but the increase in vigorous activity was greater. No differences were found in changes in the functional status and the cognitive performances of people with dementia nor in the mental health in the caregivers, but systolic blood pressure, the Family APGAR and overload in the IG did improve.Conclusions: The results suggest that the intervention carried out may be effective on physical activity in both patients and caregivers. It can also improve systolic blood pressure, the Family APGAR and overload in caregivers. This is the first study to implement a primary care intervention aimed at simultaneously increasing physical activity in people with dementia and their relatives. These results reinforce the importance of using objective measures in clinical trials in people with dementia.Trial registration number: NCT 02044887.

A Randomized Study to Assess the Impact of Pharmacist Counseling of Employer-Based Health Plan Beneficiaries With Diabetes

2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dale F. Kraemer ◽  
Wayne A. Kradjan ◽  
Theresa M. Bianco ◽  
Judi A. Low
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Management ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Glycosylated Hemoglobin ◽  
Randomized Study ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Counseling Intervention ◽  
Care Plans ◽  
Pharmacist Counseling ◽  
The Impact

Objective: To assess the impact of pharmacist counseling on empowering people with diabetes to better self-care. Introduction: Community-based pharmacists can play a key role in educating and empowering people in such programs. Methods: A randomized trial compared the effects of pharmacist counseling (intervention group) with printed materials (control group) in diabetic beneficiaries of several employer-based health care plans. All participants also received waiver of out-of-pocket expenses for diabetic-related medications and supplies. Clinical, humanistic, and claim outcomes were evaluated at baseline and at 1 year follow-up. Results: Sixty-seven beneficiaries participated in this study. The 0.50% decrease from baseline in glycosylated hemoglobin (A1c) was statistically significant ( P = .0008) in the intervention group and the difference between the groups approached statistical significance ( P = .076). Beneficiaries in both groups had greater claim costs for diabetic-related medications and supplies during the study year. Both groups also improved in ability to manage their diabetes with the counseling group showing a significantly better understanding of diabetes ( P = .0024). Conclusion: There was a trend toward improvement in A1c in patients counseled by pharmacist with an increased utilization of diabetes-related medications and supplies. Counseling also improved diabetes knowledge and empowered patients to better diabetes management.

scholarly journals Treatment Fidelity of an Evidence-Based Nurse-Led Intervention in a Proactive Primary Care Program for Older People

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nienke Bleijenberg ◽  
Valerie H. ten Dam ◽  
Irene Drubbel ◽  
Mattijs E. Numans ◽  
Niek J. de Wit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Older People ◽  
Care Program ◽  
Treatment Fidelity ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Primary Care Program

The Public Housing and Primary Care Program

2007 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 735-743 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathie Culhane-Pera ◽  
Dillard Ellmore ◽  
Lois A Wessel
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Public Housing ◽  
Care Program ◽  
The Public ◽  
Primary Care Program

scholarly journals 2057. Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship “Bundles up” in Winter with Peer Comparison, URI Order Set and Education: Is It Enough to Weather the Storm?

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S693-S693
Author(s):  
Okan I Akay ◽  
Rohini Dave ◽  
Amit Khosla ◽  
CherylAnn Kraska ◽  
Brian J Hopkins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Adverse Drug Events ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Outpatient Setting ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Upper Respiratory Infection ◽  
Primary Care Clinics ◽  
Ed Visits ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Order Set

Abstract Background Inappropriate antibiotic use is a growing problem in the outpatient setting. Approximately 90% of all antibiotics are prescribed in outpatient practices. Nonetheless, 30–70% of antibiotic prescriptions (ARx) are unnecessary. Outpatient antimicrobial stewardship (AS) is much needed and the best approach is unknown. We used a bundle approach to outpatient AS during the winter months, by implementing a peer comparison (PC) report, upper respiratory infection (URI) order set and broad education. Methods This is a quasi-experimental project during the period October 2018 to March 2019 (FY19) to evaluate the impact of a bundled intervention in primary care clinics at the VA Maryland Health Care System. A historical control group from the same period the previous year (FY18) was used for comparison. The intervention included an AS directed didactic and URI order set followed by an email in 1/2019 with: (1) censored PC report (ARx/1,000 encounters) with outliers defined as above 1.5 × interquartile range, (2) URI order set reminder, and (3) education. The primary outcome was total ARx per 1,000 encounters in primary care clinics. A random sampling of 200 charts was done to compare proportion of antibiotic appropriateness and number of emergency department (ED) visits and adverse drug events (ADEs) in FY19 Q1 and FY19 Q2. Poisson regression was carried out, in addition to Χ2-statistic. Results There were 3,799 vs. 3,429 ARx in FY18 and FY19, respectively, with a rate difference of 3.3 ARx per 1,000 encounters (P = 0.0056). Q1 to Q2 ARx rate increased by 7.8 and 8.0 ARx per 1,000 encounters in FY18 and FY19, respectively. Forty-eight percent (28/58) of the providers confirmed receipt of email. There were 3 and 4 outliers in FY19 Q1 and Q2, respectively. Appropriate ARx for FY19 Q1 and Q2 was found to be 45% and 35% (P = 0.44), respectively. The most common indications were URI (18% vs. 18%), urinary tract infection (13% vs. 21%). ED visits (10% vs. 6%) were uncommon and there were no ADEs. Conclusion E-mail communication with bundled approach had no effect on ARx or antibiotic appropriateness; however general AS presence and URI order set tempered some use. Removing peer censoring, providing face-to-face education and intensifying antibiotic order sets are additional interventions to be implemented. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

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