Randomised controlled trial comparing effectiveness and acceptability of an early discharge,hospital at home scheme with acute hospital care

Objective: To compare effectiveness and acceptability of early discharge to a hospital at home scheme with that of routine discharge from acute hospital. Design: Pragmatic randomised controlled trial. Setting: Acute hospital wards and community in north of Bristol, with a catchment population of about 224 000 people. Subjects: 241 hospitalised but medically stable elderly patients who fulfilled criteria for early discharge to hospital at home scheme and who consented to participate. Interventions: Patients’ received hospital at home care or routine hospital care. Main outcome measures: Patients’ quality of life, satisfaction, and physical functioning assessed at 4 weeks and 3 months after randomisation to treatment; length of stay in hospital and in hospital at home scheme after randomisation; mortality at 3 months. Results: There were no significant differences in patient mortality, quality of life, and physical functioning between the two arms of the trial at 4 weeks or 3 months. Only one of 11 measures of patient satisfaction was significantly different: hospital at home patients perceived higher levels of involvement in decisions. Length of stay for those receiving routine hospital care was 62% (95% confidence interval 51% to 75%) of length of stay in hospital at home scheme. Conclusions: The early discharge hospital at home scheme was similar to routine hospital discharge in terms of effectiveness and acceptability. Increased length of stay associated with the scheme must be interpreted with caution because of different organisational characteristics of the services.

Key messages

• Pressure on hospital beds, the increasing age of the population, and high costs associated with acute hospital care have fuelled the search for alternatives to inpatient hospital care
• There were no significant differences between early discharge to hospital at home scheme and routine hospital care in terms of patient quality of life, physical functioning, and most measures of patient satisfaction
• Length of stay for hospital patients was significantly shorter than that of hospital at home patients, but, owing to qualitative differences between the two interventions, this does not necessarily mean differences in effectiveness
• Early discharge to hospital at home provides an acceptable alternative to routine hospital care in terms of effectiveness and patient acceptability

     

临床护理路径管理糖尿病足患者效果评价

目的:观察临床护理路径对糖尿病足患者的效果。方法:将100例糖尿病足患者随机分为两组:实验组(50例)应用临床护理路径模式,对照组采用常规护理模式,比较两组患者的住院时间、医疗费用、患者满意率、血糖、溃疡愈合时间和糖尿病足知识评分。结果:实验组患者的住院日数、医疗费用、血糖和溃疡愈合时间显著低于对照组(P<0.05),患者满意率和糖尿病足知识评分显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。结论:应用临床护理路径可以有效地降低糖尿病患者的血糖、溃疡愈合时间、住院时间和医疗费用,提高患者糖尿病足知识水平和满意率。     

Development of a telemedicine program: a review of 1,000 videoconferencing consultations

Objective To examine the financial and organizational characteristics, demand for services, and satisfaction outcomes of a growing telemedicine program serving both urban or suburban and rural populations. Design Retrospective review of 1,000 consecutive telemedicine consultations in the University of California (UC) Davis Telemedicine Program. Setting Telemedicine videoconferencing units, used to integrate care in the UC Davis Health System among the UC Davis Medical Center and several urban or suburban primary care clinics, rural hospitals, and clinic affiliates. Subjects A total of 657 consecutive patients who consented to a telemedicine consultation. Main outcome measures Demographic information about the patient population, the rural and urban or suburban clinics, the types of specialty consultations, and telemedicine equipment used in the UC Davis Health System. Patient and physician satisfaction were measured on a 5-point Likert scale. Results Patients and primary care physicians reported high levels of satisfaction. Rural clinics requested more and a greater variety of specialist consultations than urban or suburban clinics. Conclusion Although referring physicians and patients indicate a high level of satisfaction with telemedicine services and insurers are negotiating reimbursement policies, additional research must investigate the reasons why some payers, patients, and providers resist participation in these services.     

Eficiencia de las unidades geriátricas de agudos: metaanálisis de estudios controlados

Objective

After analysing the effectiveness in the reduction in the incidence of functional impairment and a higher probability of returning home between elderly patients hospitalised due to an acute medical illness cared for in acute geriatric units (AGU) compared to conventional care units, we propose to assess the efficiency of this care.

Material and methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis was made of controlled studies (randomised, no randomised and case-control) that compared care in UGA with care in conventional hospital units of patients of 65 years and over with an acute medical illness. Studies on administrative data bases, those that evaluated care of a single disease, and those that assessed units with care in the acute and sub-acute phase were excluded. A literature review was performed on articles published up to 31st of August 2008 in Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, and references of systematic reviews and reviewed articles. The selection of the studies and the extraction of data on the hospital stay and care costs was made independently by two different researchers.

Results

A total of 11 studies were included, of which 5 were randomised, 4 were non-randomised, and 2 case control, all of them providing data on hospital stay, with 7 of them providing data on hospital costs (4 clinical trials, 2 non-randomised and 1 case-control). The overall analysis of all the studies showed that those admitted to UGA had a statistically significant reduction in hospital length of stay compared to the elderly hospitalised in conventional units (mean difference -1.01 days; 95% CI, -1.66 to -0.36) and hospital care costs (mean difference of -330 US dollars; 95% CI, -540 to -120).

Conclusions

Care in AGU is more efficient than that provided in conventional units, since, as well as achieving a reduction in the incidence of functional impairment at discharge and increasing the probability of returning home, they reduce mean hospital stay and the hospital care costs.     

Impact of a province-wide nurses' strike on medical care in a regional referral centre.

A 4-week, province-wide nurses'' strike in Alberta in 1982 caused the closure of 57% of the acute care beds, including 47% of the intensive care beds, in Calgary. The effects of the strike on patient care at Foothills Provincial General Hospital, where nurses did not strike, were assessed. The number of emergency admissions, severity of illness and rate of death in the intensive care unit increased. On the other hand, the rate of death, length of stay and number of unexpected deaths on the medical wards were similar to those in the control periods before and after the strike. A subjective perception by hospital personnel of deteriorating patient care caused much anxiety; however, the results of analysis of measurable aspects of care suggested that the patients admitted to hospital received care during the strike that was comparable to care given before or after the strike. The inconvenience and potential harm to the patients not admitted because they had less severe illness were not measured.     

Chest diseases-epitomes of progress: new diagnostic techniques for thrombophlebitis

In 1974 in California, 72,645 patients were admitted to hospital for backache. In 50 percent of these patients there was a diagnosis compatible with discogenic disease. Surgical treatment was done in 27 percent of the patients admitted to hospital. Total figures were determined for hospital costs and the costs of physician-related services. Costs for surgical treatment exceeded medical costs. Extrapolated to a national scale, it appears that the national cost for patients in hospital because of backache in 1974 was $1.38 billion. This does not include outpatient care expense or loss of income.     

Cost effectiveness of treating primary care patients in accident and emergency: a comparison between general practitioners,senior house officers,and registrars.

OBJECTIVES--To compare outcome and costs of general practitioners, senior house officers, and registrars treating patients who attended accident and emergency department with problems assessed at triage as being of primary care type. DESIGN--Prospective intervention study which was later costed. SETTING--Inner city accident and emergency department in south east London. SUBJECTS--4641 patients presenting with primary care problems: 1702 were seen by general practitioners, 2382 by senior house officers, and 557 by registrars. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Satisfaction and outcome assessed in subsample of 565 patients 7-10 days after hospital attendance and aggregate costs of hospital care provided. RESULTS--Most patients expressed high levels of satisfaction with clinical assessment (430/562 (77%)), treatment (418/557 (75%)), and consulting doctor''s manner (434/492 (88%)). Patients'' reported outcome and use of general practice in 7-10 days after attendance were similar: 206/241 (85%), 224/263 (85%), and 52/59 (88%) of those seen by general practitioners, senior house officers, and registrars respectively were fully recovered or improving (chi2 = 0.35, P = 0.840), while 48/240 (20%), 48/268 (18%), and 12/57 (21%) respectively consulted a general practitioner or practice nurse (chi2 = 0.51, P = 0.774). Excluding costs of admissions, the average costs per case were 19.30 pounds, 17.97 pounds, and 11.70 pounds for senior house officers, registrars, and general practitioners respectively. With cost of admissions included, these costs were 58.25 pounds, 44.68 pounds, and 32.30 pounds respectively. CONCLUSION--Management of patients with primary care needs in accident and emergency department by general practitioners reduced costs with no apparent detrimental effect on outcome. These results support new role for general practitioners.     

Effects of a medical team coordinator on length of hospital stay.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of a medical team coordinator (MTC) on the length of stay in a teaching hospital. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Two of four general medical clinical teaching units (CTUs). PATIENTS: Patients admitted to the CTUs between July and October 1990 except those who were admitted directly to an intensive care unit or whose death was expected within 48 hours. The 267 patients were randomly assigned to receive either standard medical care or standard medical care plus MTC services. INTERVENTION: The MTC was a baccalaureate nurse whose role was to facilitate administrative tasks such as discharge planning, to coordinate tests and procedures, and to collect and collate patient information. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Length of hospital stay. A subgroup of 40 patients was asked to complete a brief survey on medical care information and satisfaction. RESULTS: The MTC intervention reduced the mean length of stay by 1.97 days (p less than or equal to 0.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02 to 2.92 days). Subanalysis by diagnostic group revealed that most of this effect was in an ill-defined group of disorders. In the survey more patients in the MTC group than in the other group reported being satisfied with their medical care (89% v. 62%; p less than or equal to 0.05, 95% CI 2% to 52%). CONCLUSIONS: The services of an MTC help to reduce the length of hospital stay for some groups of patients. Further research is necessary to examine which components of the MTC intervention are most effective and in what conditions.     

基于临床路径的多学科协作肺癌诊疗模式探讨

目的 探索肺癌的基于临床路径的多学科协作诊疗模式。 方法 建立肺癌相关的临床路径知识库和多学科综合治疗讨论制度。 结果 共有8 532例肺癌患者通过多学科协作肺癌诊治模式进行诊治,综合讨论率达到95%以上。医疗业务相关指标均有所进步,2013年平均住院日由2012年的6天减少为5.4天,肺癌手术治疗、化疗、放疗患者的平均住院费用均下降,肺癌肺叶切除术后致命性血栓比率由0.93%减少到0.16%。结论 肺癌患者的多学科协作诊疗模式是提高诊疗水平、规范诊疗流程的重要途径,对于提高医疗质量、降低医疗费用、缩短住院日具有重要作用。     

Hospital costs associated with delirium in older medical patients

Introduction

Delirium is a common and serious complication in older patients, associated with increased, potentially preventable, morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the associated costs of delirium during hospitalization in a university affiliated hospital in Chile.

Materials and methods

Prospective cohort study of consecutive patients 65 years and older, admitted to a medical ward. A psychogeriatric team assessed patients during the first and every 48 h until discharge using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM-S), length of hospital stay, pharmacy and total hospitalization costs were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using bivariate and multivariate analysis according to delirium diagnosis.

Results

Data from 454 patients was analyzed, 160 of them in a delirium cohort (35.2%) and 294 in a non-delirium cohort (64.8%). The delirium cohort had a longer hospital stay (DATA) and higher mortality (7.0% versus 1.7%). The median of total costs of delirium during hospital stay was 38.7% higher than the non-delirium cohort (P < .001). Total costs were significantly higher in the delirium cohort after adjustment of covariables (P = .01).

Conclusions

This study confirms that delirium is associated with significantly greater costs. Considering that effective delirium prevention is possible, the knowledge of associated costs can help health care providers to justify prevention strategies and finally give better care for older patients.     

不同护理模式对维持性血液透析患者透析依从性与生活质量的影响

目的探讨不同护理模式对维持性血液透析患者透析治疗依从性与生活质量的影响。方法将行维持性血液透析的患者80例,根据护理模式的不同分为对照组与研究组各40例,对照组采用常规护理模式,研究组采用协同护理模式,两组均干预4个月,并对两组患者干预前后进行透析依从性量表、简明健康调查表(SF-36)、护理满意度进行问卷调查,分析干预前后两组患者透析依从性、生活质量变化及对护理满意度情况。结果与干预前比较,干预后研究组患者在透析依从性评分、SF-36评分及护理满意度方面均明显升高,差异有统计学意义(均P0.01);而且与对照组比较差异亦有显著统计学意义(均P0.01)。结论协同护理模式可显著提高维持性血液透析患者的血透治疗依从性及生活质量,提高了护理满意度,值得临床推广应用。     

积极的防护意识与健全的防护体系在传染病医院内的影响与效应

目的:通过提高防护意识和进一步完善防护体系实现对传染病医院的全面管理.方法:随机将我院2009年3月至2011年11月的两个病区患者及医护人员作为研究对象,向所有患者发放调查表对政策调整前后的满意程度进行调查,通过针对医护人员防护意识的强化教育和医院设施及防护体系的调整与完善以评估对患者住院期间的临床效应与影响.结果:全院上下的积极防护意识普遍增强并完善健全了防护体系,从而显著降低了感染率,患者满意度反馈良好.结论:通过提高医护人员防护意识和健全医院防护体系有助于进一步减少院内感染,提高医院医疗质量和服务水平.     

不同支付方式住院费用分析

目的：分析住院患者不同支付方式下住院费用差异,为建立合理的医疗费用控制体制提供参考依据。方法：对某院2007~2009年的住院患者的住院天数、年龄、住院费用、性别及支付方式进行分析。结果：年龄、性别和支付方式是影响住院费用的重要因素。至2009年医保患者人群多于自费患者人群,医保患者人数涨幅明显;男性患者多于女性患者;住院费用随着年龄的增长而增加。结论：继续推广城镇职工基本医疗保险,为60岁以上人群制定更有针对性的政策。     

临床路径在子宫平滑肌瘤手术患者中的应用评价

目的：探讨临床路径在子宫平滑肌瘤切除术患者中的应用价值。方法：将60例子宫肌瘤切除术的患者随机均分为2组,路径组30例采用临床路径实施规范化管理,非路径组30例按照常规方法管理。比较2组患者的平均住院日、平均住院费用、患者满意度。结果：分析了两组患者的平均住院时间、平均住院费及费用构成,平均住院时间、平均住院费的对应t值分别为（4．42）、（3．52）、差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;实验组患者满意度与对照组满意度比较,t值为（3．05）,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论：在子宫肌瘤手术的患者中应用临床路径缩短了患者的住院时间,降低了住院费用,提高了患者对医护人员的满意度,取得了良好的经济效益和社会效益。     

不同支付方式住院费用分析

目的:分析住院患者不同支付方式下住院费用差异,为建立合理的医疗费用控制体制提供参考依据。方法:对某院2007~2009年的住院患者的住院天数、年龄、住院费用、性别及支付方式进行分析。结果:年龄、性别和支付方式是影响住院费用的重要因素。至2009年医保患者人群多于自费患者人群,医保患者人数涨幅明显;男性患者多于女性患者;住院费用随着年龄的增长而增加。结论:继续推广城镇职工基本医疗保险,为60岁以上人群制定更有针对性的政策。     

Biofeedback-Based Psychophysiological Treatment in a Primary Care Setting: An Initial Feasibility Study

We sought to determine whether an intervention labeled "biofeedback" could be implemented with patients who were diagnosed with "functional" disorders (Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Fibromyagia/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Myofascial Pain, Anxiety with somatic features, or Noncardiac Chest Pain), in a primary care setting, and whether cost savings through lowered utilization of medical services would be realized. Seventy patients were initially randomized into a treatment group or comparison group based on willingness to participate. Ultimately, 19 patients completed treatment and 30 were followed through usual treatment as a comparison. Treatment patients completed symptom diaries while working with a biofeedback therapist in the primary care facility. Both group's medical expenses were tracked for 6 months prior to and 6 months after the treatment time interval. Patients in the treatment group lowered symptom frequency and severity significantly. Medical costs were differentially reduced in this group such that all costs were $72 less in the treatment group and $9 in the comparison for the 6 months following the treatment time period. (p < .001). Unfortunately, a large group of assigned treatment patients did not start or complete treatment. These patients had high initial costs and went up even higher post. No comparable group could be found among the controls, limiting any inference regarding cost/benefit. Biofeedback based interventions for "functional" disorders can be easily integrated into primary care settings, can reduce symptoms, and may be able to reduce overall medical costs in this group of patients known as heavy utilizers.     

Shortening hospital stay for psychiatric care: effect on patients and their families

A one-year cohort of patients from a defined catchment area with acute functional disorders were allocated at random to brief care (experimental group) or standard care (control group) in hospital to examine the effect of shortening hospital stay on the clinical and social functioning of patients and the distress abnormal functioning caused to others. A total of 127 patients were interviewed on entry to the study, and 106 were followed up. The brief care group had significantly shorter mean and median lengths of stay than the control group, but there was no difference between the groups in the number of days spent in hospital during subsequent admissions. The groups were well matched for clinical and social variables. Rates of improvement over 13 weeks were essentially the same by all measures of outcome, including the Present State Examination and Patient''s Behaviour Assessment Scale, which was developed for the study to measure deterioration in behaviour and social functioning and adverse effects and distress on others. There was no difference between the two groups in burden to the community supporting services, social security requirements, or GP attendances. Improvement rates were nearly identical on all measures within and across diagnostic subgroups. Brief care resulted in a 33% reduction in average length of stay compared with the year before but was associated with a corresponding increase in day hospital use. The short-stay policy continued the year after the study finished.The findings confirm the value of shortening hospital stay and improving day care facilities for most localities.     

Randomised controlled trial to evaluate early discharge scheme for patients with stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical effectiveness of an early discharge policy for patients with stroke by using a community based rehabilitation team. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial to compare conventional care with an early discharge policy. SETTING: Two teaching hospitals in inner London. SUBJECTS: 331 medically stable patients with stroke (mean age 71) who lived alone and were able to transfer independently or who lived with a resident carer and were able to transfer with help. INTERVENTIONS: 167 patients received specialist community rehabilitation for up to 3 months after randomisation. 164 patients continued with conventional hospital and community care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Barthel score at 12 months. Secondary outcomes measured impairment with motoricity index, minimental state examination, and Frenchay aphasia screening test; disability with the Rivermead activity of daily living scales, hospital anxiety and depression scale, and 5 m walk; handicap with the Nottingham health profile; carer stress with caregiver strain index and patient and carer satisfaction. The main process measure was length of stay after randomisation. RESULTS: One year after randomisation no significant differences in clinical outcomes were found apart from increased satisfaction with hospital care in the community therapy group. Length of stay after randomisation in the community therapy group was significantly reduced (12 v 18 days; P < 0.0001). Patients with impairments were more likely to receive treatment in the community therapy group. CONCLUSIONS: Early discharge with specialist community rehabilitation after stroke is feasible, as clinically effective as conventional care, and acceptable to patients. Considerable reductions in use of hospital beds are achievable.     

Outcome and upper extremity function within 72 hours after first occasion of stroke in an unselected population at a stroke unit. A part of the SALGOT study

Background

Reduced upper extremity function is one of the most common impairments after stroke and has previously been reported in approximately 70-80% of patients in the acute stage. Acute care for stroke has changes over the last years, with more people being admitted to a stroke unit as well as use of thrombolysis. The aim of the present study was to describe baseline characteristics, care pathway and discharge status in an unselected group of patients with first occasion of stroke who were at a stroke unit within 72 hours after stroke and also to investigate the frequency of impaired arm and hand function. A second aim was to explore factors associated with impaired upper extremity function and the impact of impairment on the patient’s outcome.

Methods

Patients over 18 years of age with first ever stroke, living in a geographical catchment area, being at the stroke unit within 72 hours after onset, with no prior upper extremity impairment were included. Baseline characteristics, arm and hand function within 72 hours, stroke outcome and care pathway in the acute phase were described, by gathering information retrospectively from the patients’ charts. Ischemic strokes were categorized according to the Bamford classification and the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment criteria.

Results

Of the 969 patients with first ever stroke who were screened, 642 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. According to the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), the patients had a mean score of 6.0, median 3.0, at arrival to the hospital. Ischemic stroke was most frequent in the anterior circulation (87.7%). Within 72 hours after stroke onset 48.0% of the patients had impaired arm and hand function and this was positively associated with higher age (p?<?0.004), longer stay in the acute care (p?<?0.001) and mortality in acute care (p?<?0.001). Directly admitted to the stroke unit were 89.1% of the patients and 77.1% received hospital care on same day as stroke onset. Mean length of stay in the stroke unit was 9.9 days, 56.8% of the patients were discharged directly home from the stroke unit. Mortality within 72 hours after stroke onset was 5.0%.

Conclusion

Impaired arm and hand function is present in 48% of the patients in a non selected population with first ever stroke, estimated within 72 hours after onset. This is less than previously reported. Impaired arm and hand function early after stroke is associated with higher age, longer stay in the acute care, and higher mortality within the acute hospital care.

     

Trend Analysis and Outcome Prediction in Mechanically Ventilated Patients: A Nationwide Population-Based Study in Taiwan

Objective

To investigate the relationship between changes in patient attributes and hospital attributes over time and to explore predictors of medical utilization and mortality rates in mechanical ventilation (MV) patients in Taiwan.

Background

Providing effective medical care for MV patients is challenging and requires good planning and effective clinical decision making policies. Most studies of MV, however, have only analyzed a single regional ventilator weaning center or respiratory care unit, high-quality population-based studies of MV trends and outcomes are scarce.

Methods

This population-based cohort study retrospectively analyzed 213,945 MV patients treated during 2004-2009.

Results

During the study period, the percentages of MV patients with the following characteristics significantly increased: age ≦ 65 years, treatment at a medical center, and treatment by a high-volume physician. In contrast, the percentages of MV patients treated at local hospitals and by low-volume physicians significantly decreased (P<0.001). Age, gender, Deyo-Charlson co-morbidity index, teaching hospital, hospital level, hospital volume, and physician volume were significantly associated with MV outcome (P<0.001). Over the 6-year period analyzed in this study, the estimated mean hospital treatment cost increased 48.8% whereas mean length of stay decreased 13.9%. The estimated mean overall survival time for MV patients was 16.4 months (SD 0.4 months), and the overall in-hospital 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 61.0%, 36.7%, 17.3%, and 9.6%, respectively.

Conclusions

These population-based data revealed increases in the percentages of MV patients treated at medical centers and by high-volume physicians, especially in younger patients. Notably, although LOS for MV patients decreased, hospital treatment costs increased. Healthcare providers and patients should recognize that attributes of both the patient and the hospital may affect outcomes.