Use of a Novel Standardized Administration Protocol Reduces Agitation Pro Re Nata (PRN) Medication Requirements: The Birmingham Agitation Management (BAM) Initiative.

BACKGROUND: Agitation management is a principal challenge on inpatient psychiatric units. Overreliance on common prescribing strategies of pro re nata (PRN) medication administration is problematic, given the tendencies to have overlapping or unclear indications. OBJECTIVE: Piloted project to determine whether a standardized protocol for agitation intervention may reduce PRN medication administration. METHODS: The Birmingham Agitation Management (BAM) interdisciplinary team uniquely connected the Brøset Violence Checklist (BVC) for assessment of agitation severity to a standardized PRN medication order set. Nurses on the piloted unit were trained on how to score the BVC and administer medications. Patients were assessed by the BVC every 4 hours and, based on their score, would receive no medication, low-dose benzodiazepine, high-dose benzodiazepine, or high-dose benzodiazepine plus antipsychotic. The primary end point compared the number of PRNs administered after novel protocol implementation with a retrospective cohort. Secondary measures included analysis of medication-related effects, seclusion, and physical restraint rates. RESULTS: 377 patients were included in the final analyses (184 pre-BAM, 193 BAM intervention group). No significant differences were seen in patient characteristics between groups. The total number of PRNs administered decreased by 42.5%, with both the mean and median number of administrations decreasing significantly (95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.68-5.75]; P < 0.001). A trend was noted between the number of PRNs administered and seclusion rates, but did not reach statistical significance (95% CI = [-7.28 to 60.31]; P = 0.124). CONCLUSIONS: In seemingly the first initiative of its kind, we found that a standardized agitation management protocol can help decrease the total number of PRN administrations for agitation without worsening of restraint rates and may possibly reduce the risk of adverse effects. These results require validation in specific, larger populations.

Establishing Care Post Discharge Following a Heart Failure Hospitalization in an Uninsured Heart Failure Population.

Multidisciplinary interprofessional outpatient care improves mortality for patients with heart failure (HF) but is underutilized. We sought to identify factors associated with not establishing outpatient care among uninsured individuals with HF. We included uninsured individuals referred to an interprofessional clinic after a hospitalization with HF from 2016 to 2019. The primary outcome was establishing care, defined as presenting to clinic within 7 days of discharge from the hospital. We constructed multivariable adjusted logistic regression models to identify predictors of establishing care. A total of 698 uninsured individuals were referred, of whom 583 (84%) established care. Mean age was 49.5 ± 11 years, 15% were rural-dwelling, 59% were black, and 31% were female. Black participants who were rural-dwelling (adusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.03 to 0.17) or reported alcohol use (aOR 0.32, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.64) had lower odds of establishing care. White participants who were rural-dwelling (aOR 2.63, 95% CI 1.17 to 5.90) had higher odds of establishing care. Uninsured black individuals with HF who live in rural communities or who are active alcohol users represent a group that is at high risk of not establishing outpatient follow-up after a hospitalization with HF. Efforts to reduce this disparity are warranted to improve health outcomes in this population.

Food Link: A Partnership Providing Healthy Foods to Food Insecure Patients.

BACKGROUND: Defined as an economic and social condition characterized by uncertain access to adequate food, food insecurity (FI) is associated with negative health outcomes and higher health care costs. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this article is to discuss the implementation and results of Food Link, a population-based FI program serving vulnerable populations in Birmingham, Alabama. METHODS: Academic, clinical, and community partners implemented Food Link in two free clinics serving patients with diabetes and heart failure. Patients identified as FI using the Hunger Vital Signs Screener receive dry goods and produce, food pantry referrals and benefits education. RESULTS: During the first 18 months of Food Link, more than one-half of the patients (n = 466) screened as FI and received food, with a total of 1,179 food distributions. CONCLUSIONS: Academic, clinical, and community partners working together can help meet the FI needs of vulnerable populations with the goal of improving health and decreasing costs.