Where Skilled Nursing Facility Residents Get Acute Care: Is the Emergency Department the Medical Home?
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ABSTRACT: Objectives
This study aimed to characterize the distribution of acute care visits among Medicare beneficiaries receiving skilled nursing facility (SNF) services.Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of a 20% sample of continuously enrolled Medicare beneficiaries in the 2012 Chronic Condition Warehouse data set. Beneficiaries were grouped by the number of days of SNF services, and acute care visits were categorized as "before SNF," "during SNF," or "after SNF."Results
Among the 10,717,786 Medicare beneficiaries analyzed, 384,312 (3.6%) had at least one SNF stay.Discussion
Beneficiaries who received SNF services had a higher proportion of acute care visits made to emergency departments (EDs) than beneficiaries who did not receive SNF services. Also, a higher proportion of acute care visits were made to EDs by beneficiaries after a SNF stay in comparison to residents actively residing in a SNF. The acute care capabilities of SNFs and post-SNF transitions of care to the community setting are discussed.
SUBMITTER: Venkatesh AK
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7904961 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Where Skilled Nursing Facility Residents Get Acute Care: Is the Emergency Department the Medical Home?
Venkatesh Arjun K AK Gettel Cameron J CJ Mei Hao H Chou Shih-Chuan SC Rothenberg Craig C Liu Shu-Ling SL D'Onofrio Gail G Lin ZhenQiu Z Krumholz Harlan M HM
Journal of applied gerontology : the official journal of the Southern Gerontological Society 20200825 8
<h4>Objectives</h4>This study aimed to characterize the distribution of acute care visits among Medicare beneficiaries receiving skilled nursing facility (SNF) services.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of a 20% sample of continuously enrolled Medicare beneficiaries in the 2012 Chronic Condition Warehouse data set. Beneficiaries were grouped by the number of days of SNF services, and acute care visits were categorized as "before SNF," "during SNF," or "after SNF."<h4>Result ...[more]
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Project description:BackgroundOlder adults that transfer from skilled nursing facilities (SNF) to home have significant risk for poor outcomes. Transitional care of SNF patients (i.e., time-limited services to ensure coordination and continuity of care) is poorly understood.ObjectiveTo determine the feasibility and relevance of the Connect-Home transitional care intervention, and to compare preparedness for discharge between comparison and intervention dyads.DesignA non-randomized, historically controlled design-enrolling dyads of SNF patients and their family caregivers.SettingThree SNFs in the Southeastern United States.ParticipantsIntervention dyads received Connect-Home; comparison dyads received usual discharge planning. Of 173 recruited dyads, 145 transferred to home, and 133 completed surveys within 3 days of discharge.InterventionThe Connect-Home intervention consisted of tools and training for existing SNF staff to deliver transitional care of patient and caregiver dyads.MeasurementsFeasibility was assessed with a chart review. Relevance was assessed with a survey of staff experiences using the intervention. Preparedness for discharge, the primary outcome, was assessed with Care-Transitions Measure-15 (CTM-15).ResultsThe intervention was feasible and relevant to SNF staff (i.e., 96.9% of staff recommended intervention use in the future). Intervention dyads, compared to comparison dyads, were more prepared for discharge (CTM-15 score 74.7 vs 65.3, mean ratio 1.16, 95% CI: 1.08, 1.24).ConclusionConnect-Home is a promising transitional care intervention for older patients discharged from SNF care. The next step will be to test the intervention using a cluster randomized trial, with patient outcomes including re-hospitalization.
| S-EPMC5666578 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Background/objectiveHeart failure (HF) readmission rates have plateaued despite scrutiny of hospital discharge practices. Many HF patients are discharged to skilled nursing facility (SNF) after hospitalization before returning home. Home healthcare (HHC) services received during the additional transition from SNF to home may affect readmission risk. Here, we examined whether receipt of HHC affects readmission risk during the transition from SNF to home following HF hospitalization.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingFee-for-service Medicare data, 2012 to 2015.ParticipantsBeneficiaries, aged 65 years and older, hospitalized with HF who were subsequently discharged to SNF and then discharged home.MeasurementsThe primary outcome was unplanned readmission within 30 days of discharge to home from SNF. We compared time to readmission between those with and without HHC services using a Cox model.ResultsOf 67 585 HF hospitalizations discharged to SNFs and subsequently discharged home, 13 257 (19.6%) were discharged with HHC, and 54 328 (80.4%) were discharged without HHC. Patients discharged home from SNFs with HHC had lower 30-day readmission rates than patients discharged without HHC (22.8% vs 24.5%; P < .0001) and a longer time to readmission. In an adjusted model, the hazard for readmission was 0.91 (0.86-0.95) with receipt of HHC.ConclusionsRecipients of HHC were less likely to be readmitted within 30 days vs those discharged home without HHC. This is unexpected, as patients discharged with HHC likely have more functional impairments. Since patients requiring a SNF stay after hospital discharge may have additional needs, they may particularly benefit from restorative therapy through HHC; however, only approximately 20% received such services. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:96-102, 2019.
| S-EPMC6964248 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundTransitions of care pose significant risks for patients with complex medical histories. There are few experiential medical education curricula targeting this important aspect of care.ObjectiveWe designed and tested an internal medicine transitions of care experience integrated into interns' ambulatory curriculum.MethodsThe program included 1-hour group didactics, a posthospitalization discharge visit in pairs with a home care nurse (cohort 1: 2011-2012; cohort 2: 2012-2013), and a half-day small-group visit to a skilled nursing facility led by a faculty member in geriatrics (cohort 2 only). Both visits had structured debriefings by faculty in geriatrics. For cohort 1, a quantitative follow-up survey was administered 18 to 20 months after the experience. For cohort 2, reflections were analyzed.ResultsThirty-three of 42 second-year residents (79%) in cohort 1 who participated in didactics and a home visit completed the survey. Seventy-six percent (25 of 33) reported increased knowledge of interprofessional team members' roles and the discharge process for patients with complex medical histories. Seventy-nine percent (26 of 33) reported continued use of medication reconciliation at discharge, and 64% (21 of 33) reported the experience enhanced their ability to identify threats to transitions. Of cohort 2 interns, 88% (42 of 48) participated in the home visit and 69% (33 of 48) in the skilled nursing facility visit. Intern reflections revealed insights gained, incomprehensive discharge plans, posthospital health care teams, and patients' postdischarge experience.ConclusionsAn experiential transitions of care curriculum is feasible and acceptable. Residents reported using the curriculum 18 to 20 months after exposure.
| S-EPMC6108372 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectivesOur study examined the proportion of skilled nursing facility (SNF) post-acute care residents who did not receive timely primary care provider (PCP) services following discharge, factors associated with lack of timely PCP services, and factors associated with perfect 30-day home time among those who did not receive timely PCP services.DesignLongitudinal cohort study; data sources included Medicare claims and other administrative databases.Setting and participants25,357 fee-for-service New York State Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years and older admitted to SNFs for post-acute care in 2014 and then discharged to the community.MethodsOur outcomes were a timely PCP visit (within 7 days of SNF discharge) and perfect 30-day home time, and we examined their association with patient, SNF, and county factors.ResultsAmong SNF discharges, 60.6% had a timely PCP visit. In multivariate regression analyses, female sex, nonwhite race, Medicare only status, less functional impairment and medical comorbidity, a surgical hospitalization, fewer hospital days, more SNF days, absence of home health services, for-profit SNF status, higher SNF star rating, lower ratio of registered nurse/total nursing hours, and rural counties were associated with lower odds of a timely PCP visit following SNF discharge. Among those without a timely PCP visit, female sex, less cognitive and functional impairment, less medical comorbidity, a surgical hospitalization, fewer hospital days, receipt of home health services, and higher SNF star rating were associated with increased odds of perfect 30-day home time following SNF discharge.Conclusions and implicationsThat 4 in 10 post-acute care SNF patients did not have a timely PCP visit post-SNF discharge, with racial minority and rural county status associated with decreased odds of a timely PCP visit, is concerning. Examination of whether the timing and type of outpatient visit may have varying effects on different post-acute care subpopulations would build on this work.
| S-EPMC7988426 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectiveTo describe the frequency and timing of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody detection in a convenience sample of skilled nursing facility (SNF) residents with and without confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.DesignRetrospective analysis of SNF electronic health records.SettingQualitative SARS-CoV-2 antibody test results were available from 81 SNFs in 16 states.ParticipantsSix hundred and sixty nine SNF residents who underwent both polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and antibody testing for SARS-CoV-2.MeasurementsPresence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies following the first positive PCR test for confirmed cases, or first PCR test for non-cases.ResultsAmong 397 residents with PCR-confirmed infection, antibodies were detected in 4 of 7 (57.1%) tested within 7-14 days of their first positive PCR test; in 44 of 47 (93.6%) tested within 15-30 days; in 182 of 219 (83.1%) tested within 31-60 days; and in 110 of 124 (88.7%) tested after 60 days. Among 272 PCR negative residents, antibodies were detected in 2 of 9 (22.2%) tested within 7-14 days of their first PCR test; in 41 of 81 (50.6%) tested within 15-30 days; in 65 of 148 (43.9%) tested within 31-60 days; and in 9 of 34 (26.5%) tested after 60 days. No significant differences in baseline resident characteristics or symptoms were observed between those with versus without antibodies.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that vulnerable older adults can mount an antibody response to SARS-CoV-2, and that antibodies are most likely to be detected within 15-30 days of diagnosis. That antibodies were detected in a large proportion of residents with no confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection highlights the complexity of identifying who is infected in real time. Frequent surveillance and diagnostic testing based on low thresholds of clinical suspicion for symptoms and/or exposure will remain critical to inform strategies designed to mitigate outbreaks in SNFs while community SARS-CoV-2 prevalence remains high.
| S-EPMC8013911 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ImportanceUse of postacute care is common and costly in the United States, but there is significant uncertainty about whether the choice of postacute care setting matters. Understanding these tradeoffs is particularly important as new alternative payment models push patients toward lower-cost settings for care.ObjectiveTo investigate the association of patient outcomes and Medicare costs of discharge to home with home health care vs discharge to a skilled nursing facility.Design, setting, and participantsA retrospective cohort study used Medicare claims data from short-term acute-care hospitals in the United States and skilled nursing facility and home health assessment data from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2016, on Medicare beneficiaries who were discharged from the hospital to home with home health care or to a skilled nursing facility. To address the endogeneity of treatment choice, an instrumental variables approach used the differential distance between the beneficiary's home zip code and the closest home health agency and the closest skilled nursing facility as an instrument.ExposuresReceipt of postacute care at home vs in a skilled nursing facility.Main outcomes and measuresReadmission within 30 days of hospital discharge, death within 30 days of hospital discharge, improvement in functional status during the postacute care episode, and Medicare payment for postacute care and total payment for the 60-day episode.ResultsA total of 17 235 854 hospitalizations (62.2% women and 37.8% men; mean [SD] age, 80.5 [7.9] years) were discharged either to home with home health care (38.8%) or to a skilled nursing facility (61.2%) during the study period. Discharge to home was associated with a 5.6-percentage point higher rate of readmission at 30 days compared with discharge to a skilled nursing facility (95% CI, 0.8-10.3; P = .02). There were no significant differences in 30-day mortality rates (-2.0 percentage points; 95% CI, 0.8-10.3; P = .12) or improved functional status (-1.9 percentage points; 95% CI, -12.0 to 8.2; P = .71). Medicare payment for postacute care was significantly lower for those discharged to home compared with those discharged to a skilled nursing facility (-$5384; 95% CI, -$6932 to -$3837; P < .001), as was total Medicare payment within the first 60 days after admission (-$4514; 95% CI, -$6932 to -$3837; P < .001).Conclusions and relevanceAmong Medicare beneficiaries eligible for postacute care at home or in a skilled nursing facility, discharge to home with home health care was associated with higher rates of readmission, no detectable differences in mortality or functional outcomes, and lower Medicare payments.
| S-EPMC6503560 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundAs the veteran population ages, more veterans are receiving post-acute care in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). However, the outcomes of these transitions across Veterans Affairs (VA) and non-VA settings are unclear.ObjectiveTo measure adverse outcomes in veterans transitioning from hospital to SNF in VA and non-VA hospitals and SNFs.DesignRetrospective observational study using the 2012 to 2014 Residential History File, which concatenates VA, Medicare, and Medicaid data into longitudinal episodes of care for veterans.SettingVA and non-VA hospitals and SNFs in four categories: non-VA SNFs, VA-contracted SNFs, VA Community Living Centers (CLCs), and State Veterans Homes.ParticipantsVeterans, aged 65 years or older, who were acutely hospitalized and discharged to an SNF; one transition was randomly selected per patient.MeasurementsAdverse "transitional care" outcomes were a composite of hospital readmission, emergency department visit, or mortality within 7 days of hospital discharge.ResultsMore than four in five veteran transitions (81.7%) occurred entirely outside the VA system. The overall 7-day outcome rate was 10.7% in the 388 339 veterans included. Adverse outcomes were lowest in VA hospital-CLC transitions (7.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 7.1%-7.8%) and highest in non-VA hospital to VA-contracted nursing home transitions (17.5%; 95% CI = 16.0%-18.9%) in unadjusted analysis. In multivariate analyses adjusted for patient and hospital characteristics, VA hospitals had lower adverse outcome rates than non-VA hospitals (odds ratio [OR] = 0.80; 95% CI = 0.74-0.86). In comparison to VA hospital-VA CLC transitions, non-VA hospital to VA-contracted nursing homes (OR = 2.51; 95% CI = 2.09-3.02) and non-VA hospital to CLC (OR = 2.25; 95% CI = 1.81-2.79) had the highest overall adverse outcome rates.ConclusionMost veteran hospital-SNF transitions occur outside the VA, although adverse transitional care outcomes are lowest inside the VA. These findings raise important questions about the VA's role as a provider and payer of post-acute care in SNFs. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:1820-1826, 2019.
| S-EPMC6732011 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundLong-term acute care hospital (LTACH) use varies considerably across the U.S., which may reflect uncertainty about the effectiveness of LTACHs vs. skilled nursing facilities (SNF), the principal post-acute care alternative. Given that LTACHs provide more intensive care and thus receive over triple the reimbursement of SNFs for comparable diagnoses, we sought to compare outcomes and spending between LTACH versus SNF transfer.MethodsUsing Medicare claims linked to electronic health record (EHR) data from six Texas Hospitals between 2009 and 2010, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients hospitalized on a medicine service in a high-LTACH use region and discharged to either an LTACH or SNF and followed for one year. The primary outcomes included mortality, 60-day recovery without inpatient care, days at home, and healthcare spending RESULTS: Of 3503 patients, 18% were transferred to an LTACH. Patients transferred to LTACHs were younger (median 71 vs. 82 years), less likely to be female (50.5 vs 66.6%) and white (69.0 vs. 84.1%), but were sicker (24.3 vs. 14.2% for prolonged intensive care unit stay; median diagnosis resource intensity weight of 2.03 vs. 1.38). In unadjusted analyses, patients transferred to an LTACH vs. SNF were less likely to survive (59.1 vs. 65.0%) or recover (62.5 vs 66.0%), and spent fewer days at home (186 vs. 200). Adjusting for demographic and clinical confounders available in Medicare claims and EHR data, LTACH transfer was not significantly associated with differences in mortality (HR, 1.12, 95% CI, 0.94-1.33), recovery (SHR, 1.07, 0.93-1.23), and days spent at home (IRR, 0.96, 0.83-1.10), but was associated with greater Medicare spending ($16,689 for one year, 95% CI, $12,216-$21,162).ConclusionLTACH transfer for Medicare beneficiaries is associated with similar clinical outcomes but with higher healthcare spending compared to SNF transfer. LTACH use should be reserved for patients who require complex inpatient care and cannot be cared for in SNFs.
| S-EPMC7656509 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Nursing home (NH) residents are often transferred to hospital (emergency department (ED) visits or hospital admissions) and this occurs more frequently in males. However, respective reasons are rather unclear. We conducted a multicenter prospective study in 14 northwest German NHs with 802 residents in which NH staff recorded anonymized data between March 2018 and July 2019 for each hospital transfer. Measures were analyzed using descriptive statistics and compared between sexes via univariate logistic regression analyses using mixed models with random effects. Eighty-eight planned transfers (53.5% hospital admissions, 46.5% ED visits) occurred as well as 535 unplanned transfers (63.1% hospital admissions, 36.9% ED visits). The two most common causes for unplanned transfers were deteriorations of health status (35.1%) and falls/accidents/injuries (33.5%). Male transferred residents were younger, more often married; their advance directives were more commonly not considered correctly and the NH staff identified more males nearing the end of life than females (52.9% vs. 38.2%). Only 9.2% of transfers were rated avoidable. For advance directive availability and NH staff's perceptions on transfer conditions, we found marked inter-facility differences. There might be sociocultural factors influencing hospital transfer decisions of male and female nursing home residents and facility characteristics that may affect transfer policy.
| S-EPMC7312075 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundNursing home (NH) residents are frequent users of emergency departments (ED) and while prior research suggests that repeat visits are common, there is little data describing this phenomenon. Our objectives were to describe repeat ED visits over one year, identify risk factors for repeat use, and characterize "frequent" ED visitors.MethodsUsing provincial administrative data from Ontario, Canada, we identified all NH residents 65 years or older who visited an ED at least once between January 1 and March 31, 2010 and then followed them for one year to capture all additional ED visits. Frequent ED visitors were defined as those who had 3 or more repeat ED visits. We used logistic regression to estimate risk factors for any repeat ED visit and for being a frequent visitor and Andersen-Gill regression to estimate risk factors for the rate of repeat ED visits.ResultsIn a cohort of 25,653 residents (mean age 84.5 (SD?=?7.5) years, 68.2% female), 48.8% had at least one repeat ED visit. Residents who experienced a repeat ED visit were generally similar to others but they tended to be slightly younger, have a higher proportion male, and a higher proportion with minimal cognitive or physical impairment. Risk factors for a repeat ED visit included: being male (adjusted odds ratio 1.27, (95% confidence interval 1.19-1.36)), diagnoses such as diabetes (AOR 1.28 (1.19-1.37)) and congestive heart failure (1.26 (1.16-1.37)), while severe cognitive impairment (AOR 0.92 (0.84-0.99)) and 5 or more chronic conditions (AOR 0.82 (0.71-0.95)) appeared protective. Eleven percent of residents were identified as frequent ED visitors, and they were more often younger then 75 years, male, and less likely to have Alzheimer's disease or other dementias than non-frequent visitors.ConclusionsRepeat ED visits were common among NH residents but a relatively small group accounted for the largest number of visits. Although there were few clear defining characteristics, our findings suggest that medically complex residents and younger residents without cognitive impairments are at risk for such outcomes.
| S-EPMC6034297 | biostudies-literature