Dataset Information

The Influence of the Rural Transitions Nurse Program for Veterans on Healthcare Utilization Costs.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare System Rural Transitions Nurse Program (TNP) addresses barriers veterans face when transitioning from urban tertiary VA hospitals to home. Previous clinical evaluations of TNP have shown that enrolled veterans were more likely to follow up with their primary care provider within 14 days of discharge and experience a significant reduction in mortality within 30 days compared to propensity-score matched controls.

Objective

Examine changes from pre- to post-hospitalization in total, inpatient, and outpatient 30-day healthcare utilization costs for TNP enrollees compared to controls.

Design

Quantitative analyses modeling the changes in cost via multivariable linear mixed-effects models to determine the association between TNP enrollment and changes in these costs.

Participants

Veterans meeting TNP eligibility criteria who were discharged home following an inpatient hospitalization at one of the 11 implementation sites from April 2017 to September 2019.

Intervention

The four-step TNP transitional care intervention.

Main measures

Changes in 30-day total, inpatient, and outpatient healthcare utilization costs were calculated for TNP enrollees and controls.

Key results

Among 3001 TNP enrollees and 6002 controls, no statistically significant difference in the change in total costs (p = 0.65, 95% CI: (- $675, $350)) was identified. However, on average, the increase in inpatient costs from pre- to post-hospitalization was approximately $549 less for TNP enrollees (p = 0.02, 95% CI: (- $856, - $246)). The average increase in outpatient costs from pre- to post-hospitalization was approximately $421 more for TNP enrollees compared to controls (p = 0.003, 95% CI: ($109, $671)).

Conclusions

Although we found no difference in change in total costs between veterans enrolled in TNP and controls, TNP was associated with a smaller increase in direct inpatient medical costs and a larger increase in direct outpatient medical costs. This suggests a shifting of costs from the inpatient to outpatient setting.

SUBMITTER: Williams PH

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9585107 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

The Influence of the Rural Transitions Nurse Program for Veterans on Healthcare Utilization Costs.

Williams Piper H PH Gilmartin Heather M HM Leonard Chelsea C McCarthy Michaela S MS Kelley Lynette L Grunwald Gary K GK Jones Christine D CD Whittington Melanie D MD

Journal of general internal medicine 20220830 14

<h4>Background</h4>The Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare System Rural Transitions Nurse Program (TNP) addresses barriers veterans face when transitioning from urban tertiary VA hospitals to home. Previous clinical evaluations of TNP have shown that enrolled veterans were more likely to follow up with their primary care provider within 14 days of discharge and experience a significant reduction in mortality within 30 days compared to propensity-score matched controls.<h4>Objective</h4>Examine chan ...[more]

PMID: 36042072

Similar Datasets

Project description:ObjectivesAdapting evidence-based practices to local settings is critical for successful implementation and dissemination. A pre-implementation assessment evaluates local context to inform implementation, but there is little published guidance for clinician-implementers. The rural Transitions Nurse Program (TNP) is a care coordination intervention that facilitates care transitions for rural veterans. In year 1 of TNP, pre-implementation assessments were conducted by a centralized project team through multi-day visits at five sites nationwide. In year 2, we tested if local site TNP nurses could conduct pre-implementation assessments using evidence-based tools and coaching from the TNP team. This required developing a multicomponent pre-implementation strategy bundle to guide data collection and synthesis. We hypothesized that (1) nurses would find the pre-implementation assessment useful for tailoring TNP to local contexts and (2) nurses would identify similar barriers and facilitators to those identified at first year sites.MethodsThe bundle included guides for conducting key informant interviews, brainwriting, process mapping, and reflective journaling. We evaluated TNP nurse satisfaction and perceived utility of the structure and process of the training and bundle through pre-post surveys. To assess the outcome of data collection efforts, we interviewed nurses 4 months after completion of the pre-implementation assessment to determine if and how they used pre-implementation findings to tailor implementation of TNP to local contexts. To further assess outcomes, all data that the nurses collected were analyzed thematically. Themes related to barriers and facilitators were compared across years.FindingsFive nurses at different VA medical centers used the pre-implementation strategy bundle to collect site-level data and completed pre-post surveys. Findings indicated that the pre-implementation assessment was highly recommended, and the bundle provided adequate training. Nurses felt that pre-implementation work oriented them to the local context and illustrated how to integrate TNP into existing processes. Barriers and facilitators identified by nurses were similar to those collected in year 1 by the TNP research team, including communication challenges, need for buy-in, and logistical concerns.ConclusionsThis proof-of-concept study suggests that evidence-based tools can effectively guide clinician-implementers through the process of conducting a pre-implementation assessment. This approach positively informed TNP implementation and oriented nurses to their local context prior to implementation.

Project description:BackgroundUnderstanding how to successfully sustain evidence-based care coordination interventions across diverse settings is critical to ensure that patients continue to receive high quality care even after grant funding ends. The Transitions Nurse Program (TNP) is a national intervention in the Veterans Administration (VA) that coordinates care for high risk veterans transitioning from acute care VA medical centers (VAMCs) to home. As part of TNP, a VA facility receives funding for a full-time nurse to implement TNP, however, this funding ends after implementation. In this qualitative study we describe which elements of TNP sites planned to sustain as funding concluded, as well as perceived barriers to sustainment.MethodsTNP was implemented between 2016 and 2020 at eleven VA medical centers. Three years of funding was provided to each site to support hiring of staff, implementation and evaluation of the program. At the conclusion of funding, each site determined if they would sustain components or the entirety of the program. Prior to the end of funding at each site, we conducted midline and exit interviews with Transitions nurses and site champions to assess plans for sustainment and perceived barriers to sustainment. Interviews were analyzed using iterative, team-based inductive deductive content analysis to identify themes related to planned sustainment and perceived barriers to sustainment.ResultsNone of the 11 sites planned to sustain TNP in its original format, though many of the medical centers anticipated offering components of the program, such as follow up calls after discharge to rural areas, documented warm hand off to PACT team, and designating a team member as responsible for patient rural discharge follow up. We identified three themes related to perceived sustainability. These included: 1) Program outcomes that address leadership priorities are necessary for sustainment.; 2) Local perceptions of the need for TNP or redundancy of TNP impacted perceived sustainability; and 3) Lack of leadership buy-in, changing leadership priorities, and leadership turnover are perceived barriers to sustainment.ConclusionsUnderstanding perceived sustainability is critical to continuing high quality care coordination interventions after funding ends. Our findings suggest that sustainment of care coordination interventions requires an in-depth understanding of the facility needs and local leadership priorities, and that building adaptable programs that continually engage key stakeholders is essential.

Project description:Background Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) angina severity classification is associated with mortality, myocardial infarction, and coronary revascularization in clinical trial and registry data. The objective of this study was to determine associations between CCS class and all-cause mortality and healthcare utilization, using natural language processing to extract CCS classifications from clinical notes. Methods and Results In this retrospective cohort study of veterans in the United States with stable angina from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2013, natural language processing extracted CCS classifications. Veterans with a prior diagnosis of coronary artery disease were excluded. Outcomes included all-cause mortality (primary), all-cause and cardiovascular-specific hospitalizations, coronary revascularization, and 1-year healthcare costs. Of 299 577 veterans identified, 14 216 (4.7%) had ≥1 CCS classification extracted by natural language processing. The mean age was 66.6±9.8 years, 99% of participants were male, and 81% were white. During a median follow-up of 3.4 years, all-cause mortality rates were 4.58, 4.60, 6.22, and 6.83 per 100 person-years for CCS classes I, II, III, and IV, respectively. Multivariable adjusted hazard ratios for all-cause mortality comparing CCS II, III, and IV with those in class I were 1.05 (95% CI, 0.95-1.15), 1.33 (95% CI, 1.20-1.47), and 1.48 (95% CI, 1.25-1.76), respectively. The multivariable hazard ratio comparing CCS IV with CCS I was 1.20 (95% CI, 1.09-1.33) for all-cause hospitalization, 1.25 (95% CI, 0.96-1.64) for acute coronary syndrome hospitalizations, 1.00 (95% CI, 0.80-1.26) for heart failure hospitalizations, 1.05 (95% CI, 0.88-1.25) for atrial fibrillation hospitalizations, 1.92 (95% CI, 1.40-2.64) for percutaneous coronary intervention, and 2.51 (95% CI, 1.99-3.16) for coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Conclusions Natural language processing-extracted CCS classification was positively associated with all-cause mortality and healthcare utilization, demonstrating the prognostic importance of anginal symptom assessment and documentation.

Project description:ObjectivesTo determine the association of the frailty phenotype with subsequent healthcare costs and utilization.DesignProspective cohort study (Osteoporotic Fracture in Men [MrOS]).SettingSix US sites.ParticipantsA total of 1,514 community-dwelling men (mean age = 79.3 years) participating in the MrOS Year 7 (Y7) examination linked with their Medicare claims data.MeasurementsAt Y7, the frailty phenotype was operationalized using five components and categorized as robust, pre-frail, or frail. Multimorbidity and a frailty indicator (approximating the deficit accumulation index) were derived from claims data. Functional limitations were assessed by asking about difficulty performing instrumental activities of daily living. Total direct healthcare costs and utilization were ascertained during 36 months following Y7.ResultsMean of total annualized costs (2018 dollars) was $5,707 (standard deviation [SD] = 8,800) among robust, $8,964 (SD = 18,156) among pre-frail, and $20,027 (SD = 27,419) among frail men. Compared with robust men, frail men (cost ratio [CR] = 2.35; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.88-2.93) and pre-frail men (CR = 1.28; 95% CI = 1.11-1.48) incurred greater total costs after adjustment for demographics, multimorbidity, and cognitive function. Associations of phenotypic pre-frailty and frailty with higher total costs were somewhat attenuated but persisted after further consideration of functional limitations and a claims-based frailty indicator. Each individual frailty component was also associated with higher total costs. Frail vs robust men had higher odds of hospitalization (odds ratio [OR] = 2.62; 95% CI = 1.75-3.91) and skilled nursing facility (SNF) stay (OR = 3.36; 95% CI = 1.83-6.20). A smaller but significant effect of the pre-frail category on SNF stay was present.ConclusionPhenotypic pre-frailty and frailty were associated with higher subsequent total healthcare costs in older community-dwelling men after accounting for a claims-based frailty indicator, functional limitations, multimorbidity, cognitive impairment, and demographics. Assessment of the frailty phenotype or individual components such as slowness may improve identification of older community-dwelling adults at risk for costly extensive care.

Project description:ObjectivesTo determine the association of the frailty phenotype with subsequent healthcare costs and utilization.DesignProspective cohort study (Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF)).SettingFour U.S. sites.ParticipantsCommunity-dwelling women (mean age 80.2) participating in SOF Year 10 (Y10) examination linked with their Medicare claims data (N=2,150).MeasurementsAt Y10, frailty phenotype defined using criteria similar to those used in the Cardiovascular Health Study frailty phenotype and categorized as robust, intermediate stage, or frail. Participant multimorbidity burden ascertained using claims data. Functional limitations assessed by asking about difficulty performing instrumental activities of daily living. Total direct healthcare costs and utilization ascertained during 12 months after Y10.ResultsMean total annualized cost±standard deviation (2014 dollars) was $3,781±6,920 for robust women, $6,632±12,452 for intermediate stage women, and $10,755 ± 16,589 for frail women. After adjustment for age, site, multimorbidity burden, and cognition, frail women had greater mean total (cost ratio (CR)=1.91, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.59-2.31) and outpatient (CR=1.55, 95% CI=1.36-1.78) costs than robust women and greater odds of hospitalization (odds ratio (OR)=2.05, 95% CI=1.47-2.87) and a skilled nursing facility stay (OR=3.85, 95% CI=1.88-7.88). There were smaller but significant effects of the intermediate stage category on these outcomes. Individual frailty components (shrinking, poor energy, slowness, low physical activity) were also each associated with higher total costs. Functional limitations partially mediated the association between the frailty phenotype and total costs (CR further adjusted for self-reported limitations=1.32, 95% CI=1.07-1.63 for frail vs robust; CR=1.35, 95% CI=1.18-1.55 for intermediate stage vs robust women).ConclusionIntermediate stage and frail older community-dwelling women had higher subsequent total healthcare costs and utilization after accounting for multimorbidity and functional limitations. Frailty phenotype assessment may improve identification of older adults likely to require costly, extensive care.

Project description:PurposeWomen Veterans have unique healthcare needs and often experience comorbid health conditions. Despite this, many women Veterans are not enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and do not use VHA services. Underutilization of VHA services may be particularly prevalent among rural women Veterans, who may experience unique barriers to using VHA care. Nonetheless, knowledge of rural women Veterans and their experiences remains limited. We sought to understand rural women Veterans' perceptions and needs related to VHA healthcare, including barriers to enrolling in and using VHA services, and perspectives on how to communicate with rural women Veterans about VHA services.MethodsRural women Veterans were recruited through community engagement with established partners and a mass mailing to rural women Veterans not enrolled in or using VHA healthcare. Ten virtual focus groups were conducted with a total of twenty-nine rural women Veterans (27 not enrolled in VHA care and 2 who had not used VHA care in the past 5 years) in 2021. A thematic inductive analytic approach was used to analyze focus group transcripts.FindingsPrimary themes regarding rural women Veterans' perceptions of barriers to enrollment and use of VHA healthcare included: (1) poor communication about eligibility and the process of enrollment; (2) belief that VHA does not offer sufficient women's healthcare services; and (3) inconvenience of accessing VHA facilities.ConclusionAlthough VHA has substantially expanded healthcare services for women Veterans, awareness of such services and the nuances of eligibility and enrollment remains an impediment to enrolling in and using VHA healthcare among rural women Veterans. Recommended strategies include targeted communication with rural women Veterans not enrolled in VHA care to increase their awareness of the enrollment process, eligibility, and expansion of women's healthcare services. Creative strategies to address access and transportation barriers in rural locations are also needed.

Dataset Information

The Influence of the Rural Transitions Nurse Program for Veterans on Healthcare Utilization Costs.

Background

Objective

Design

Participants

Intervention

Main measures

Key results

Conclusions

Publications

The Influence of the Rural Transitions Nurse Program for Veterans on Healthcare Utilization Costs.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets