Addressing non-response data for standardized post-acute functional items.

BACKGROUND: The post-acute patient standardized functional items (Section GG) include non-response options such as refuse, not attempt and not applicable. We examined non-response patterns and compared four methods to address non-response functional data in Section GG at nation-wide inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRF). METHODS: We characterized non-response patterns using 100% Medicare 2018 data. We applied four methods to generate imputed values for each non-response functional item of each patient: Monte Carlo Markov Chains multiple imputations (MCMC), Fully Conditional Specification multiple imputations (FCS), Pattern-mixture model (PMM) multiple imputations and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approach. We compared changes of Spearman correlations and weighted kappa between Section GG and the site-specific functional items across impairments before and after applying four methods. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-nine thousand six hundred ninety-one Medicare fee-for-services beneficiaries admitted to IRFs with stroke, brain dysfunction, neurologic condition, orthopedic disorders, and debility. At discharge, 3.9% (self-care) and 61.6% (mobility) of IRF patients had at least one non-response answer in Section GG. Patients tended to have non-response data due to refused at discharge than at admission. Patients with non-response data tended to have worse function, especially in mobility; also improved less functionally compared to patients without non-response data. Overall, patients coded as 'refused' were more functionally independent in self-care and patients coded as 'not applicable' were more functionally independent in transfer and mobility, compared to other non-response answers. Four methods showed similar changes in correlations and agreements between Section GG and the site-specific functional items, but variations exist across impairments between multiple imputations and the CMS approach. CONCLUSIONS: The different reasons for non-response answers are correlated with varied functional status. The high proportion of patients with non-response data for mobility items raised a concern of biased IRF quality reporting. Our findings have potential implications for improving patient care, outcomes, quality reporting, and payment across post-acute settings.

Readmissions Reduction Program: Mortality and Readmissions for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Rationale: Implementation of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) following discharge of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has led to a reduction in 30-day readmissions with unknown effects on postdischarge mortality.Objectives: To examine the association of HRRP with 30-day hospital readmission and 30-day postdischarge mortality rate in patients after discharge from COPD hospitalization.Methods: Retrospective cohort study of readmission and mortality rates in a national cohort (N = 4,587,542) of admissions of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries 65 years or older with COPD from 2006 to 2017.Measurements and Main Results: Data were analyzed for three nonoverlapping periods based on implementation of the HRRP specific to COPD: 1) preannouncement (December 2006 to March 2010), 2) announcement (April 2010 to August 2014), and 3) implementation (October 2014 to November 2017). The 30-day readmission rate decreased from 20.54% in the preannouncement period (December 2006 to July 2008) to 18.74% in the implementation period (May 2016 to November 2017). The 30-day risk-standardized postdischarge mortality rates were 6.91%, 6.59%, and 7.30% for the preannouncement, announcement, and implementation periods, respectively. Generalized estimating equations analyses estimated an additional 1,196 deaths (October 2014 to April 2016) and 3,858 deaths (May 2016 to November 2017) during the HRRP implementation period.Conclusions: We found a reduction in 30-day all-cause readmission rate during the implementation period compared with the preannouncement phase. HRRP implementation was also associated with a significant increase in 30-day mortality after discharge from COPD hospitalization. Additional research is necessary to confirm our findings and understand the factors contributing to increased mortality in patients with COPD in the HRRP implementation period.

Arthritis, physical function, and disability among older Mexican Americans over 23 years of follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: Arthritis is a common chronic condition in the ageing population. Its impact on physical function varies according to sociodemographic and race/ethnic factors. The study objective was to examine the impact of arthritis on physical function and disability among non-disabled older Mexican Americans over time. DESIGN: A 23-year prospective cohort study of 2230 Mexican Americans aged 65 years and older from the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly (1993/94-2016). The independent variable was self-reported physician-diagnosed arthritis, and the outcomes included Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), mobility, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and handgrip strength. Covariates were sociodemographic, medical conditions, body mass index, depressive symptoms, and cognitive function. General linear mixed models were performed to estimate the change in SPPB and muscle strength. General Equation Estimation models estimated the odds ratios (OR) of becoming ADL- or IADL- or mobility - disabled as a function of arthritis. All variables were used as time-varying except for sex, education, and nativity. RESULTS: Overall, participants with arthritis had higher odds ratio (OR) of any ADL [OR = 1.35, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.09-1.68] and mobility (OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.18-1.52) disability over time than those without arthritis, after controlling for all covariates. Women, but not men, reporting arthritis had increased risk for ADL and mobility disability. The total SPPB score declined 0.18 points per year among those with arthritis than those without arthritis, after controlling for all covariates (p-value < .010). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates the independent effect of arthritis in increasing ADL and mobility disability and decreased physical function in older Mexican Americans over 23-years of follow-up.

Clinical Performance Measures for Stroke Rehabilitation: Performance Measures From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association released the adult stroke rehabilitation and recovery guidelines in 2016. A working group of stroke rehabilitation experts reviewed these guidelines and identified a subset of recommendations that were deemed suitable for creating performance measures. These 13 performance measures are reported here and contain inclusion and exclusion criteria to allow calculation of rates of compliance in a variety of settings ranging from acute hospital care to postacute care and care in the home and outpatient setting.

Relationship Between Nursing Home Compare Improvement in Function Quality Measure and Physical Recovery After Hip Replacement.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether patients with a total or partial hip replacement admitted to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) after the improvement in function quality measure was added to Nursing Home Compare in July 2016 have greater physical recovery than patients admitted before July 2016. DESIGN: Pre (January 1, 2015-June 30, 2016) vs post (July 1, 2016-December 31, 2017) design. SETTING: Skilled nursing facilities (n=12,829). PARTICIPANTS: Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries (N=106,832) discharged from acute hospitals to SNF after hip replacement between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2017. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The 5- and 14-day minimum data set assessments were used to calculate total scores for the quality measure, self-care, mobility, and balance. We calculated the average adjusted change per 10 days and any improvement between the 5- and 14-day assessments. RESULTS: The average adjusted change per 10 days for the quality measure total score for patients admitted before July 2016 and after July 2016 was 1.00 points (standard error, 0010) and 1.06 points (standard error, 0.010), respectively (P<.01). This was a relative increase of 6.0%. Among patients admitted to a SNF before July 2016, 44.4% (standard error, 0.06) had any improvement in the quality measure total score compared with 45.5% (standard error, 0.23) of patients admitted after July 2016 (P<.01). This was a relative increase of 2.5%. The adjusted change per 10 days and percentage of patients who had any improvement in the total scores for self-care, mobility, and balance were all significantly higher after July 2016. CONCLUSIONS: Patients admitted to a SNF after a hip replacement after July 2016 had greater physical recovery than patients admitted before the improvement in function quality measure was added to Nursing Home Compare.

Function and Caregiver Support Associated With Readmissions During Home Health for Individuals With Dementia.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the association between mobility, self-care, cognition, and caregiver support and 30-day potentially preventable readmissions (PPR) for individuals with dementia. DESIGN: This retrospective study derived data from 100% national Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services data files from July 1, 2013, through June 1, 2015. PARTICIPANTS: Criteria from the Home Health Claims-Based Rehospitalization Measure and the Potentially Preventable 30-Day Post Discharge Readmission Measure for the Home Health Quality Reporting Program were used to identify a cohort of 118,171 Medicare beneficiaries. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The 30-day PPR rates with associated 95% CIs were calculated for each patient characteristic. Multilevel logistic regression was used to study the relationship between mobility, self-care, caregiver support, and cognition domains and 30-day PPR during home health, adjusting for patient demographics and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: The overall rate of 30-day PPR was 7.6%. In the fully adjusted models, patients who were most dependent in mobility (odds ratio [OR], 1.59; 95% CI, 1.47-1.71) and self-care (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.61-1.87) had higher odds for 30-day PPR. Patients with unmet caregiving needs had 1.11 (95% CI, 1.05-1.17) higher odds for 30-day PPR than patients whose caregiving needs were met. Patients with cognitive impairment had 1.23 (95% CI, 1.16-1.30) higher odds of readmission than those with minimal to no cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased independence in mobility and self-care tasks, unmet caregiver needs, and impaired cognitive processing at admission to home health are associated with risk of 30-day PPR during home health for individuals with dementia. Our findings indicate that deficits in mobility and self-care tasks have the greatest effect on the risk for PPR.

Predictors of Discharge Settings After Total Knee Arthroplasty in Medicare Patients.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the factors associated with acute hospital discharge to the 3 most common postacute settings following total knee arthroplasty (TKA): inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs), skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), and directly back to the community. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Acute care hospitals submitting claims to Medicare. PARTICIPANTS: National cohort (N=1,189,286) of 100% Medicare Part A data files from 2009-2011. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Observed rates and adjusted odds of discharge to the 3 main postacute settings based on the clinical and facility level variables: amount of comorbidity, bilateral procedures, and facility TKA volume. RESULTS: Using IRF discharge as the reference, patients who received a bilateral procedure had lower odds of both SNF and community discharge, patients with more comorbidity had lower odds for community discharge and higher odds for SNF discharge, and patients who received their TKA from hospitals with lower TKA volumes had lower odds of SNF and community discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical populations within Medicare beneficiaries may systematically vary across the 3 most common discharge settings following TKA. This information may be helpful for a better understanding on which patient or clinical factors influence postacute care settings following TKA. Additional research including functional status, living situation, and social support systems would be beneficial.

Frailty transitions predict healthcare use and Medicare payments in older Mexican Americans: a longitudinal cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Little is known regarding the impact of transitions in frailty on healthcare use and payment in older Mexican Americans. We address this gap in knowledge by investigating the effect of early transitions in physical frailty on the use of healthcare services and Medicare payments involving older Mexican Americans. METHODS: Longitudinal analyses were conducted using the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly (Hispanic-EPESE) survey data from five Southwest states linked to the Medicare claims files from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Seven hundred and eighty-eight community-dwelling Mexican Americans 72 years and older in 2000/01 were studied. We used a modified Frailty Phenotype (unintentional weight loss, weakness, self-reported exhaustion and slow walking speed) to classify frailty status (non-frail, pre-frail or frail). Each participant was placed into one of 5 frailty transition groups: 1) remain non-frail, 2) remain pre-frail, 3) remain frail, 4) improve (pre-frail to non-frail, frail to non-frail, frail to pre-frail) and 5) worse (non-frail to pre-frail, non-frail to frail, pre-frail to frail). The outcomes for the one-year follow-up period (2000-2001) were: (a) healthcare use (hospitalization, emergency room [ER] admission and physician visit); and (b) Medicare payments (total payment and outpatient payment). RESULTS: Mean age was 78.8 (SD = 5.1) years and 60.3% were female in 1998/99. Males who remained pre-frail (Odds Ratio [OR] = 3.49, 1.13-10.8, remained frail OR = 6.92, 1.61-29.7) and transitioned to worse frail status (OR = 4.49, 1.74-11.6) had significantly higher hospitalization risk compared to individuals who remained non-frail. Males in the 'worsened' groups, and females in the 'improved' groups, had significantly higher Medicare payments than individuals who remained non-frail (Cost Ratio [CR] = 2.00, 1.30-3.09; CR = 1.53, 1.12-2.09, respectively]. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare use and Medicare payments differed by frailty transition status. The differences varied by sex. Research is necessary to elucidate the relationship between frailty transitions and outcomes, sex difference and Medicare payment for older Mexican Americans living in the community.

Use of the ICD-10 vision codes to study ocular conditions in Medicare beneficiaries with stroke.

BACKGROUND: Ocular conditions are common following stroke and frequently occur in combination with pre-existing ophthalmologic disease. The Medicare International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) coding system for identifying vision related health conditions provides a much higher level of detail for coding these complex scenarios than the previous ICD-9 system. While this new coding system has advantages for clinical care and billing, the degree to which providers and researchers are utilizing the expanded code structure is unknown. The purpose of this study was to describe the use of ICD-10 vision codes in a large cohort of stroke survivors. METHODS: Retrospective cohort design to study national 100% Medicare claims files from 2015 through 2017. Descriptive data analyses were conducted using all available ICD-10 vision codes for beneficiaries who had an acute care stay because of a new stroke. The outcome of interest was ≥1 ICD-10 visual code recorded in the claims chart. RESULTS: The cohort (n = 269,314) was mostly female (57.1%) with ischemic stroke (87.8%). Approximately 15% were coded as having one or more ocular condition. Unspecified glaucoma was the most frequently used code among men (2.83%), those over 85+ (4.80%) and black beneficiaries (4.12%). Multiple vision codes were used in few patients (0.6%). Less than 3% of those in the oldest group (85+ years) had two or more vision codes in their claims. CONCLUSIONS: Ocular comorbidity was present in a portion of this cohort of stroke survivors, however the vision codes used to describe impairments in this population were few and lacked specificity. Future studies should compare ophthalmic examination results with billing codes to characterize the type and frequency of ocular comorbidity. It important to understand how the use of ICD-10 vision codes impacts clinical decision making, recovery, and outcomes.

Muscle weakness and functional limitations in an ethnically diverse sample of older adults.

Objectives: Muscle weakness is often linked to functional limitations in older adults. However, certain demographic characteristics, such as ethnicity, may differentially impact the association between weakness and functional limitations. This investigation sought to (1) identify sex- and ethnically-specific muscle weakness thresholds associated with functional limitations among older adults, and (2) determine the odds of functional limitations for each ethnicity by sex after identifying older adults below the weakness thresholds.Design: Persons aged ≥60 years from the 2011-2012 to 2013-2014 waves of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey identifying as non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, or non-Hispanic Asian were included. Handgrip strength was normalized to each participant's body weight (normalized grip strength (NGS)). Participants responded to 19-items asking them about their ability to perform certain activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, leisure and social activities, lower extremity mobility functions, and general physical activities. Receiver operating characteristic curves identified the optimal NGS thresholds associated with functional limitations. Covariate-adjusted multiple logistic regression models were performed to determine the odds of functional limitations for weak vs. not-weak participants.Results: Of the 3,027 participants, the highest NGS thresholds for functional limitations were in non-Hispanic Asian males (0.41; p < 0.001) and Hispanic females (0.36; p < 0.001); whereas, the lowest NGS thresholds were in Hispanic males (0.25; p < 0.001) and non-Hispanic black females (0.23; p < 0.001). Weak non-Hispanic Asian males (odds ratio (OR): 10.42; 95% confidence interval (CI): 10.24, 10.61) and females (OR: 11.95; CI: 11.71, 12.19) had the highest odds for functional limitations compared to their non-weak counterparts.Conclusion: Preserving muscle strength, especially for certain older adult populations, may help reduce the odds of developing functional limitations. Interventions designed to increase muscle strength to preserve or improve function should consider the role of ethnicity when designing such interventions and identifying at risk populations.

Association of Pain on Hospital Discharge with the Risk of 30-Day Readmission in Patients with Total Hip and Knee Replacement.

BACKGROUND: It is not clear if there is a risk of 30-day readmissions following total hip and knee arthroplasty in patients reporting high levels of pain at hospital discharge. We examined the relationship between post-surgical pain on the day of discharge and 30-day readmission in patients who received total knee and hip arthroplasty. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study was conducted of patients who received total knee (n = 155,284) or hip arthroplasty (n = 89,283) from 2011 to 2018 using electronic health records from the Optum database. Four categories of pain at discharge were created, from none to severe. Multivariate logistic regression models to predict 30-day all-cause readmission were adjusted for patient and clinical characteristics and built separately for knee and hip arthroplasty patients. RESULTS: Mean ages for hip and knee patients were 64.4 (standard deviation 11.3) and 65.7 (standard deviation 9.7) years, respectively. The majority of patients were female (hip: 54.4%; knee: 61.5%). The unadjusted rate of 30-day readmission was 3.54% for hip replacement and 3.66% for knee replacement. In models adjusted for patient and clinical characteristics, for patients with total hip replacement, the odds of 30-day readmission for those with severe pain score at discharge vs those with no pain at discharge were 1.60 (95% confidence interval 1.33-1.92). Similarly, readmission likelihood increased as pain at discharge increased (severe pain vs no pain) for patients with total knee arthroplasty (odds ratio 1.38, 95% confidence interval 1.19-1.59). CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrated that the pain scores on the day of discharge are associated with 30-day hospital readmission.

Functional Status Is Associated With 30-Day Potentially Preventable Readmissions Following Home Health Care.

BACKGROUND: Beginning in 2019, home health agencies' rates of potentially preventable hospital readmissions over the 30 days following discharge will be publicly reported. OBJECTIVES: Our primary objective was to determine the association between patients' functional status at discharge from home health care and 30-day potentially preventable readmissions. A secondary objective was to identify the most common conditions resulting in potentially preventable readmissions. DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1,510,297 Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries discharged from home health care in 2013-2015. Average age was 75.9 (SD, 10.9) years, 60.0% were female, and 84.2% non-Hispanic white. MEASUREMENTS: Thirty-day potentially preventable readmissions following home health discharge. Functional status measures included mobility, self-care, and impaired cognition. RESULTS: The overall rate of 30-day potentially preventable readmissions was 2.6% (N=39,452), which accounted for 40% of all 30-day readmissions. After adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, the odds ratios for the most dependent score quartile versus the most independent was 1.58 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.53-1.63] for mobility and 1.65 (95% CI, 1.59-1.69) for self-care. The odds ratios for impaired versus intact cognition was 1.21 (95% CI, 1.18-1.24). The 5 most common conditions resulting in a potentially preventable readmission were congestive heart failure (23.6%), septicemia (16.7%), bacterial pneumonia (9.8%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (9.4%), and renal failure (7.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Functional limitations at discharge from home health are associated with increased risk for potentially preventable readmissions. Future research is needed to determine whether improving functional independence decreases the risk for potentially preventable readmissions following home health care.

Differences in hospitalizations, emergency room admissions, and outpatient visits among Mexican-American Medicare beneficiaries.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated the healthcare utilization of Mexican-American Medicare beneficiaries. We used survey data that has been linked with Medicare claims records to describe the healthcare utilization of Mexican-American Medicare beneficiaries, determine common reasons for hospitalizations, and identify characteristics associated with healthcare utilization. METHODS: Data came from wave five (2004/05) of the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly. The final sample included 1187 participants aged ≥75 who were followed for two-years (eight-quarters). Generalized estimating equations were used to estimate the probability of ≥1 hospitalization, emergency room (ER) admissions, and outpatient visits. RESULTS: The percentage of beneficiaries who had ≥1 hospitalizations, ER admissions, and outpatient visits for each quarter ranged from 10.12-12.59%, 14.15-19.03%, and 76.61-80.68%, respectively. Twenty-three percent of hospital discharges were for circulatory conditions and 17% were for respiratory conditions. Hospitalizations for heart failure and simple pneumonia were most common. Older age was associated with significantly higher odds for ER admissions (OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.21-1.84) but lower odds for outpatient visits (OR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.57-0.96). Spanish language and female gender were associated with significantly higher odds for hospitalizations (OR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.14-2.06) and outpatient visits (OR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.43-2.33), respectively. Having a middle-school or higher level of education was associated with significantly lower odds for ER admissions (OR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.56-0.91). Participants who were deceased within two-years had significantly higher odds for hospitalizations (OR = 6.15, 95% CI = 4.79-7.89) and ER admissions (OR = 3.63, 95% CI = 2.88-4.57) than participants who survived at least three-years. CONCLUSION: We observed high healthcare utilization among Mexican-American Medicare beneficiaries. Forty percent of all hospitalizations were for circulatory and respiratory conditions with hospitalizations for heart failure and pneumonia being the most common. Older age, gender, education, language, and mortality were all associated with healthcare utilization. Continued research is needed to identify patterns and clusters of social determinants and health characteristics associated with healthcare utilization and outcomes in older Mexican-Americans.

Combined effects of cognitive impairment and pre-frailty on future frailty and death in older Mexican Americans.

Objectives: Impaired cognition and pre-frailty are associated with poor health outcomes. However, research has not examined the combined impact of cognitive impairment and pre-frailty on future frailty and mortality among older Mexican Americans. Methods: Data for this analysis came from the 2006-2007 and 2010-2011 waves of the Hispanic EPESE. The final sample included 639 Mexican Americans aged ≥77 years who were non-frail or pre-frail in 2006-2007. Frailty measure included weight loss, exhaustion, weakness, and slow walking speed. Participants were classified as non-frail (0 criteria) and pre-frail (1 criterion) at baseline. Cognitive impairment was defined as <21 points on the MMSE. At baseline, participants were grouped as: cognitively intact non-frail, cognitively intact pre-frail, cognitively impaired non-frail, and cognitively impaired pre-frail. Logistic and hazard regression models were used to evaluate the odds of being frail in 2010-2011 and risk for 10-year mortality. Results: Cognitively impaired pre-frail participants were more likely to become frail (OR = 4.82, 95% CI = 2.02-11.42) and deceased (HR = 1.99, 95% CI = 1.42-2.78). Cognitively impaired non-frail participants had significantly higher risk for mortality (HR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.12-2.19) but not frailty (OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 0.50-3.11). Being cognitively intact and pre-frail at baseline was not significantly associated with being frail at follow-up (OR = 1.62, 95% CI = 0.83-3.19) or mortality (HR = 1.29, 95% CI = 0.97-1.71). Conclusions: Comorbid cognitive impairment and pre-frailty is associated with future frailty and mortality in older Mexican Americans. Screening for cognitive impairment may be effective for identifying pre-frail Mexican Americans who are at the highest risk of frailty and mortality.

Elder abuse and mistreatment: results from medicare claims data.

Elder abuse and mistreatment (EM) continues to be a growing problem as the US population ages. Despite the growth, detection of EM continues to lag. However, Medicare claims data and the electronic health record might provide an opportunity to encourage better detection. We evaluated Medicare claims data from 2012-2014 for beneficiaries who had a diagnostic code for EM discharged from any types of facility. We extracted records for 10,181 individuals examining demographic characteristics, residential characteristics, residential location, type of facility providing care, disease co-morbidities, and disability-related conditions. Of our sample, most were female (65.1%), white (78.8%), over 75 years of age (52.6%), and from an urban setting (85.2%). While the greatest number were discharged from acute care settings, almost one-third were hospitalized in psychiatric hospitals (34.6%). Mood disorders (27.5%) and dementia (14.2%) were the most common primary diagnoses. Hypertension (67.7%), depression (44.6%), fluid and electrolyte disorder (43.6%), and cardiac arrhythmia (28.2%) were the most common co-morbidities. In Medicare claims data, we found unique features and co-morbidities associated with EM. These findings could be used to develop a clinical algorithm predictive of older adults requiring screening for EM.

Same But Different: FIM Summary Scores May Mask Variability in Physical Functioning Profiles.

OBJECTIVE: To examine how similar summary scores of physical functioning using the FIM can represent different patient clinical profiles. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Inpatient rehabilitation facilities. PARTICIPANTS: Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries (N=765,441) discharged from inpatient rehabilitation. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We used patients' scores on items of the FIM to quantify their level of independence on both self-care and mobility domains. We then identified patients as requiring "no physical assistance" at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation by using a rule and score-based approach. RESULTS: In those patients with FIM self-care and mobility summary scores suggesting no physical assistance needed, we found that physical assistance was in fact needed frequently in bathroom-related activities (eg, continence, toilet and tub transfers, hygiene, clothes management) and with stairs. It was not uncommon for actual performance to be lower than what may be suggested by a summary score of those domains. CONCLUSIONS: Further research is needed to create clinically meaningful descriptions of summary scores from combined performances on individual items of physical functioning.

Functional Status Is Associated With 30-Day Potentially Preventable Hospital Readmissions After Inpatient Rehabilitation Among Aged Medicare Fee-for-Service Beneficiaries.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the association between patients' functional status at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation and 30-day potentially preventable hospital readmissions. A secondary objective was to examine the conditions resulting in these potentially preventable readmissions. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Inpatient rehabilitation facilities submitting claims to Medicare. PARTICIPANTS: National cohort (N=371,846) of inpatient rehabilitation discharges among aged Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries in 2013 to 2014. The average age was 79.1±7.6 years. Most were women (59.7%) and white (84.5%). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: (1) Observed rates and adjusted odds of 30-day potentially preventable hospital readmissions after inpatient rehabilitation and (2) primary diagnoses for readmissions. RESULTS: The overall rate of any 30-day hospital readmission after inpatient rehabilitation was 12.4% (n=46,265), and the overall rate of potentially preventable readmissions was 5.0% (n=18,477). Functional independence was associated with lower observed rates and adjusted odds ratios for potentially preventable readmissions. Observed rates for the highest versus lowest quartiles within each functional domain were as follows: self-care: 3.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.3-3.5) versus 6.9% (95% CI, 6.7-7.1), mobility: 3.3% (95% CI, 3.2-3.4) versus 7.2% (95% CI, 7.0-7.4), and cognition: 3.5% (95% CI, 3.4-3.6) versus 6.2% (95% CI, 6.0-6.4), respectively. Similarly, adjusted odds ratios were as follows: self-care: .70 (95% CI, .67-.74), mobility: .64 (95% CI, .61-.68), and cognition: .84 (95% CI, .80-.89). Infection-related conditions (44.1%) were the most common readmission diagnoses followed by inadequate management of chronic conditions (31.2%) and inadequate management of other unplanned events (24.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Functional status at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation was associated with 30-day potentially preventable readmissions in our sample of aged Medicare beneficiaries. This information may help identify at-risk patients. Future research is needed to determine whether follow-up programs focused on improving functional independence will reduce readmission rates.

Effects of Age and Sex on Hospital Readmission in Traumatic Brain Injury.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of age and sex on 30-, 60-, and 90-day hospital readmission after acute hospital discharge for individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Acute hospitals and postacute discharge settings. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals (N=52,877) with Diagnosis Related Group codes of TBI, who were divided into 4 age groups: 18 to 40, 41 to 65, 66 to 75, and ≥76 years. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All-cause hospital readmission. RESULTS: Sex differences in 30-, 60-, and 90-day hospital readmission were found among all age groups (P<.05 for all). The largest sex differences in hospital readmission were in the 2 oldest groups (66-75 and ≥76y). For both sexes, the oldest group (≥76y) had the highest adjusted 90-day readmission risk (eg, 90-d readmission: odds ratio, 2.32 [95% confidence interval, 2.01-2.69] for men; odds ratio, 1.96 [95% confidence interval, 1.59-2.43] for women). Among those readmitted within 90 days, the youngest group (18-40y) had the highest cumulative readmission percentage (35% for both sexes) within the first week of hospital discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Age and sex were significantly associated with hospital readmission during the first 90 days postdischarge in our TBI sample. Specifically, those aged 66 to 75 or ≥76 years had the highest readmission risk over 90 days for both sexes. The findings suggest that clinicians should consider age and sex in discharge planning and for the entire episode of care for the population with TBI.

Is Profit Status of Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities Independently Associated With 30-Day Unplanned Hospital Readmission for Medicare Beneficiaries?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of facility-level factors on 30-day unplanned risk-adjusted hospital readmission after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs). DESIGN: Study using 100% Medicare claims data, covering 269,306 discharges from 1094 IRFs between October 2010 and September 2011. SETTING: IRFs with at least 30 discharges. PARTICIPANTS: A total number of 1094 IRFs (N=269,306) serving Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Risk-standardized readmission rate (RSRR) for 30-day hospital readmission. RESULTS: Profit status was the only provider-level IRF characteristic significantly associated with unplanned readmissions. For-profit IRFs had a significantly higher RSRR (13.26±0.51) than did nonprofit IRFs (13.15±0.47) (P<.001). After controlling for all other facility characteristics (except for accreditation status because of its collinearity with facility type), for-profit IRFs had a 0.1% point higher RSRR than did nonprofit IRFs, and census region was the only significant region-level characteristic, with the South showing the highest RSRR of all regions (type III test, P=.005 for both). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the inclusion of profit status on the IRF Compare website (a platform including IRF comparators to indicate quality of services). For-profit IRFs had a higher RSRR than did nonprofit IRFs for Medicare beneficiaries. The South had a higher RSRR than did other regions. The RSRR difference between for-profit and nonprofit IRFs could be due to the combined effects of organizational and regional factors.

The feasibility and RE-AIM evaluation of the TAME health pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Conducting 5 A's counseling in clinic and utilizing technology-based resources are recommended to promote physical activity but little is known about how to implement such an intervention. This investigation aimed to determine the feasibility and acceptability, using the RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance) framework, of a pragmatic, primary care-based intervention that incorporated 5 A's counseling and self-control through an activity monitor. METHODS: Primary care patients (n = 40) 55-74 years of age were recruited and randomized to receive a pedometer or an electronic activity monitor (EAM), Jawbone UP24, to monitor activity for 12 weeks. Participants were also invited to a focus group after completing the intervention. Stakeholders (n = 36) were recruited to provide feedback. RESULTS: The intervention recruitment rate was 24.7%. The attrition rate was 20% with a significantly higher rate for the pedometer group (p = 0.02). The EAM group increased their minutes of physical activity by 11.1 min/day while the pedometer maintained their activity (0.2 min/day), with no significant group difference. EAM participants liked using their monitor and would continue wearing it while the pedometer group was neutral to these statements (p < 0.05). Over the 12 weeks there were 490 comments and 1094 "likes" given to study peers in the corresponding application for the UP24 monitor. Some EAM participants enjoyed the social interaction feature while others were uncomfortable talking to strangers. Participants stated they would want counseling from a counselor and not their physician or a nurse. Other notable comments included incorporating multiple health behaviors, more in-person counseling with a counselor, and having a funding source for sustainability. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the study was well-received but the results raise a number of considerations. Practitioners, counselors, and researchers should consider the following before implementing a similar intervention: 1) utilize PA counselors, 2) target multiple health behaviors, 3) form a social support group, 4) identify a funding source for sustainability, and 5) be mindful of concerns with technology. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov- NCT02554435 . Registered 24 August 2015.