Social and Structural Drivers of Health and Transition to Adult Care.

CONTEXT: Youth with chronic health conditions experience challenges during their transition to adult care. Those with marginalized identities likely experience further disparities in care as they navigate structural barriers throughout transition. OBJECTIVES: This scoping review aims to identify the social and structural drivers of health (SSDOH) associated with outcomes for youth transitioning to adult care, particularly those who experience structural marginalization, including Black, Indigenous, and 2-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, and others youth. DATA SOURCES: Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycINFO were searched from earliest available date to May 2022. STUDY SELECTION: Two reviewers screened titles and abstracts, followed by full-text. Disagreements were resolved by a third reviewer. Primary research studying the association between SSDOH and transition outcomes were included. DATA EXTRACTION: SSDOH were subcategorized as social drivers, structural drivers, and demographic characteristics. Transition outcomes were classified into themes. Associations between SSDOH and outcomes were assessed according to their statistical significance and were categorized into significant (P < .05), nonsignificant (P > .05), and unclear significance. RESULTS: 101 studies were included, identifying 12 social drivers (childhood environment, income, education, employment, health literacy, insurance, geographic location, language, immigration, food security, psychosocial stressors, and stigma) and 5 demographic characteristics (race and ethnicity, gender, illness type, illness severity, and comorbidity). No structural drivers were studied. Gender was significantly associated with communication, quality of life, transfer satisfaction, transfer completion, and transfer timing, and race and ethnicity with appointment keeping and transfer completion. LIMITATIONS: Studies were heterogeneous and a meta-analysis was not possible. CONCLUSIONS: Gender and race and ethnicity are associated with inequities in transition outcomes. Understanding these associations is crucial in informing transition interventions and mitigating health inequities.

Using a Quality Improvement Approach to Implement Measurement-Based Care (MBC) in Outpatient General Psychiatry.

BACKGROUND: Measurement-based care (MBC) is the clinical practice of using patient-reported symptom measurement to inform treatment decisions. MBC has been shown to improve patient outcomes and quality of care in outpatient psychiatry. Despite these benefits, MBC is not routinely used in most psychiatric outpatient settings. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to achieve 75% completion of symptom scales using an online MBC platform in a general psychiatry clinic in Toronto, Canada, by June 2022. METHODS: The QI team used the Model for Improvement methodology. The main outcome measure was completion of symptom scales using an online MBC platform. Process measures included counts of invitations to join the MBC platform, counts of online MBC account creation, and counts of symptom scale assignment by clinicians. Balancing measures included administrative task completion and physician workload assessment. Stakeholder interviews explored barriers and facilitators to MBC utilization. RESULTS: Completion of symptom scales increased from 7/65 (10.8%) preintervention to 40/70 (57.1%) during the 26-week intervention. Clinician reminders and coaching clinicians about how to incorporate MBC into the care process facilitated uptake of MBC. Stakeholders identified several barriers to implementation, particularly physician attitudes toward MBC and perceived administrative burden. CONCLUSION: Completion of symptom scales increased over the course of this QI initiative. Successful implementation of MBC in general psychiatry outpatient settings requires the availability of a broad range of measurement scales given the diversity of mental health diagnoses. Implementation must also consider health equity, including access to technology and availability of symptom scales in multiple languages.

Quality Indicators for Youth Transitioning to Adult Care: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Transition from pediatric to adult care is associated with adverse health outcomes for many adolescents with chronic illness. We identified quality indicators for transition to adult care that are broadly applicable across chronic illnesses and health systems. METHODS: Medline, Embase, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature were searched, covering earliest available date to July 2021. The Gray Matters framework was used to search gray literature. Two independent reviewers screened articles by title and abstract, followed by full-text review. Disagreements were resolved by a third reviewer. Studies were included that identified quality indicators developed via consensus-building methods. Indicators were organized into a framework categorized by illness specificity, level of care, Donabedian model, and Institute of Medicine quality domain. Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation tool was used for critical appraisal. RESULTS: The search identified 4581 articles, of which 321 underwent full-text review. Eight peer-reviewed studies and 1 clinical guideline were included, identifying 169 quality indicators for transition. Of these, 56% were illness specific, 43% were at the patient level of care, 44% related to transition processes, and 51% were patient centered and 0% equity focused. Common indicator themes included education (12%), continuity of care (8%), satisfaction (8%), and self-management/self-efficacy (7%). The study was limited by quality indicators developed through consensus-building methodology. CONCLUSIONS: Although most quality indicators for transition were patient-centered outcomes, few were informed by youth and parents/caregivers, and none focused on equity. Further work is needed to prioritize quality indicators across chronic illness populations while engaging youth and parents/caregivers in the process.

Outcomes and Resource Utilization in Robotic Mitral Valve Repair: Beyond the Learning Curve.

BACKGROUND: After the initial learning curve associated with mastering a robotic procedure, there is a plateau where operative time and complication rates stabilize. Our objective was to evaluate one surgeon's experience with robotic mitral valve repairs (MVRep) beyond the learning curve and to compare its effectiveness against the traditional open approach. METHODS: Data from Ronald Reagan University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center was prospectively collected from January 2008 to March 2016 to identify adult patients undergoing robotic MVRep. Operative times, complication rates, and cost for robotic versus open MVRep were compared using multivariate regressions, adjusting for comorbidities and previous cardiac surgeries. RESULTS: During the study period, 175 robotic (41%) and 259 open (59%) MVRep cases were performed at our institution. As the surgeon performed more robotic operations, there was a decrease in room time (554-410 min, P < 0.001), surgery time (405-271 min, P < 0.001), and cross-clamp times (179-93 min, P < 0.001). After application of a multivariate regression model, robotic MVRep was associated with lower odds of complications (odds ratio = 0.42, P = 0.001), shorter length of stay (ß = -2.51, P < 0.001), and a reduction of 11% in direct (P = 0.003) and 24% in room costs (P < 0.001), but a 51% increase in surgery cost (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: As the surgeon gained experience with robotic MVRep, operative times decreased in a steady manner. Robotic MVRep had comparable outcomes to open MVRep and lower overall cost. The observed difference in costs is likely related to shorter length of stay and lower room cost with the robotic approach.

Trends in mortality and resource utilization for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in the United States: 2008-2014.

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is used as a life-sustaining measure in patients with acute or end-stage cardiac or respiratory failure. We analyzed national trends in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation use and outcomes and assessed the influence of hospital demographics. METHODS: Adult extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients in the 2008-2014 National Inpatient Sample were evaluated. Patient and hospital characteristics, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation indication, mortality, and hospital costs were analyzed. RESULTS: A total 17,020 adult extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients were considered: 47.4% respiratory failure, 38.6% postcardiotomy, 5.5% lung transplantation, 5.5% cardiogenic shock, and 3.2% heart transplantation. Admissions rose 361% from 1,026 in 2008 to 4,815 in 2014 (P < .0001), and the fraction of respiratory failure increased 40.5%-49.8% (P < .001). Elixhauser scores rose from 3.1 to 4.1 (P < .0001). Mortality decreased among total admissions from 62.4% to 42.7% (P < .0001) associated with an observed decline in postcardiotomy mortality. Mean hospital costs and length of stay remained stable throughout the study period. Although extracorporeal membrane oxygenation occurred most frequently at large hospitals, small and medium-sized hospitals showed significant expansion (P < .001). The Northeast exhibited a sustained three-fold per capita increase in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation rate (P < .0001). CONCLUSION: The past decade has seen an exponential growth of ECMO extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in the United States, with the fraction for respiratory failure displaying considerable growth. Overall extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients experienced substantially reduced mortality, driven by improved outcomes for postcardiotomy patients, along with a trend toward an increased risk profile. Disproportionate use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in the Northeast warrants investigation of access to this technology across the United States.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in cardiac surgery: Incidence, costs, and duration of stay.

BACKGROUND: Heparin is routinely used in many cardiovascular procedures to prevent thrombosis. An antibody-mediated process, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia occurs in a small subset of patients exposed to heparin. Though some have suggested a recent increase in the incidence of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, data on the impact of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia on costs and duration of stay after cardiac surgery is generally lacking. The present study aimed to assess national trends in the incidence and resource use associated with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in cardiac surgical patients. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed identifying adult cardiac surgery patients with a diagnosis of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia by using the 2009-2014 National Inpatient Sample Database. Association between development of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and complications during hospitalization were evaluated using multivariate regression models. RESULTS: Of the 3,547,883 cardiac surgery patients, 13,943 (0.40%) were diagnosed with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia was associated with significantly longer median index duration of stay (elective 12 vs 6 days, urgent 17 vs 10 days; P < .001) and higher hospitalization costs (elective $56,230 vs $35,072, urgent $75,509 vs $42,789; P < .001). Independent predictors of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia included female sex (elective odds ratio 1.4, 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.03) and history of hypercoagulable condition (elective odd ratio 4.03, 95% confidence interval 1.8-8.9). After adjustment for baseline differences, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia was independently associated with increased risk of mortality (elective odds ratio 2.0, 95% confidence interval 1.3-3.1; urgent odds ratio 1.8, 95% confidence interval 1.3-2.5), neurologic (elective odds ratio 1.5, 95% confidence interval 1.2-1.9; urgent odds ratio 1.3, 95% confidence interval 1.1-1.6), infectious (elective odds ratio 2.4, 95% confidence interval 1.9-3.0; urgent odds ratio 1.6, 95% confidence interval 1.4-2.0), and respiratory (elective odds ratio 1.4, 95% confidence interval 1.2-1.5; urgent odds ratio 1.4, 95% confidence interval 1.2-1.5) complications. CONCLUSION: Based on this national analysis of adult cardiac surgical patients, the presence of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia was associated with higher odds of mortality and morbidity, greater costs, and longer duration of stay. Female gender, history of hypercoagulability, and heart failure, among others, are independent predictors of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. These findings have significant implications in the era of value-based health care delivery. In addition to reducing unnecessary exposure to heparin, proper diagnosis and treatment are essential for favorable outcomes.

One In Five Fewer Heart Attacks: Impact, Savings, And Sustainability In San Diego County Collaborative.

Before 2011 rates of hospitalization for heart attacks were about the same in San Diego County as they were in the rest of California. In 2011 a multistakeholder population health collaborative consisting of partners at the federal, state, and local levels launched Be There San Diego. The collaborative's goal was to reduce cardiovascular events through the spread of best practices aimed at improving control of hypertension, lipid levels, and blood sugar and through patient and medical community activation. Using hospital discharge data for the period 2007-16, we compared acute myocardial infarction (AMI) hospitalization rates in San Diego County and the rest of the state before and after the demonstration project started. AMI hospitalization rates decreased by 22 percent in San Diego County versus 8 percent in the rest of the state, with an estimated 3,826 AMI hospitalizations avoided and $86 million in savings in San Diego. Results show that a science-based health collaborative can improve outcomes while lowering costs, and efforts are under way to ensure the collaborative's sustainability.

Racial Disparities in the Incidence of Pulmonary Embolism after Colectomy.

Disparities in the incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) based on racial and socioeconomic factors remain ill-defined. The present study evaluated the impact of race and hospital characteristics on rates of PE for all adult colectomy patients in the 2005 to 2014 Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Hospitals were designated as high-burden hospitals (HBHs) or low-burden hospitals of underinsured payers. Chi-squared tests of trend and multivariable regression adjusting for patient and hospital characteristics were performed. Of the 2,737,977 adult patients who underwent colectomy in the study period, 79 per cent were White, 10 per cent Black, and 7 per cent Hispanic. The annual rate of PE increased from 0.6 per cent in 2005 to 0.95 per cent in 2014 (P < 0.0001). Black patients had significantly higher incidence of PE than Whites (1.5% vs 0.9%, P < 0.001) and Hispanics (1.5% vs 0.8%, P < 0.001). Colectomy at HBHs was also associated with significantly higher rates of PE (1% vs 0.86%, P < 0.001). After adjusting for baseline differences, colectomy at HBHs (odds ratio 1.14, 95% confidence interval 1.02-1.27, P = 0.02) and Black race (odds ratio 1.4, 95% confidence interval 1.26-1.66, P < 0.001) were independent predictors of PE. In this national study of colectomy patients, Black patients experienced a disproportionate burden of postoperative PE. Further investigation into the causes and prevention of PE in vulnerable populations may identify targets for surgical quality improvement.

Play-based procedural preparation and support intervention for cranial radiation.

PURPOSE: The primary objective of this study was to examine the relationship between play-based procedural preparation and support intervention and use of sedation in children with central nervous system (CNS) tumors during radiation therapy. The secondary objective was to analyze the cost-effectiveness of the intervention compared to costs associated with daily sedation. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted, and 116 children aged 5-12 years met criteria for inclusion. Outcome measures included the total number of radiation treatments received, the number of treatments received with and without sedation, and the type and duration of interventions, which consisted of developmentally appropriate play, education, preparation, and distraction provided by a certified child life specialist. RESULTS: The results of univariate analyses showed that age, tumor location, and total number and duration of interventions were significantly associated with sedation use during radiation therapy. Multivariate analyses showed that, after adjustment for age, tumor location, and craniospinal radiation, a significant relationship was found between the total number and duration of the interventions and sedation use. The implementation of a play-based procedural preparation and support intervention provided by a certified child life specialist significantly reduced health-care costs by decreasing the necessity of daily sedation. CONCLUSIONS: Support interventions provided by child life specialists significantly decreased both sedation use and the cost associated with daily sedation during cranial radiation therapy in children with CNS tumors. This study supports the value of the child life professional as a play-based developmental specialist and a crucial component of cost-effective healthcare.