Evaluation of Home Phototherapy for Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize home phototherapy treatment for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and assess the risk factors associated with the need for hospital admission during or after home phototherapy. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective study of newborn infants born at ≥35 weeks of gestation who underwent comprehensive home phototherapy (that included daily in-home lactation support and blood draws) over an 18-month period. We excluded infants who lacked a recorded birth date or time, started treatment at age >14 days, or had a conjugated serum bilirubin level of ≥2 mg/dL (≥34.2 µmol/L). The primary study outcome was any hospital admission during or within 24 hours after completion of home phototherapy. Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for hospitalization. RESULTS: Of the cohort of 1385 infants, 1324 met the inclusion criteria. At the time home phototherapy was initiated, 376 infants (28%) were at or above the American Academy of Pediatrics phototherapy threshold. Twenty-five infants required hospitalization (1.9%; 95% CI, 1.3%-2.8%). Hospital admission was associated with a younger age at phototherapy initiation (OR, 0.63 for each day older in age; 95% CI, 0.44-0.91) and a higher total serum bilirubin level relative to the treatment threshold at phototherapy initiation (OR, 1.71 for each 1 mg/dL above the treatment threshold; 95% CI, 1.40-2.08). CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive home phototherapy successfully treated hyperbilirubinemia in the vast majority of the infants in this cohort.

At-Home Hospital Care Reduces Readmissions and Length of Stay, Enhances Patient Satisfaction.

A new payment model may pave the way for wider implementation.

Dehospitalisation at a general hospital in Minas Gerais: challenges and prospects. / A desospitalização em um hospital público geral de Minas Gerais: desafios e possibilidades.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the dehospitalisation process at a general public hospital in Minas Gerais, Brazil, from the perspective of managers, health workers, users and their families. METHODS: This is a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive study based on the principles of methodological and theoretical dialectics. The participants were 24 hospital health workers and 15 companions of users going through the process of dehospitalisation. Data were collected from April to June 2015 using semi-structured interviews and a field journal records and subsequently subjected to content analysis. RESULTS: Analysis of the empirical material led to the construction of the following categories: Dehospitalisation: viewpoint of the institution and Family organisation for the dehospitalisation process. CONCLUSION: The study reveals a deficiency in the implementation, systematisation, internal reorganisation and continuity of care after dehospitalisation. Current dehospitalisation strategies do not favour comprehensiveness and continuity of home care.

A desospitalização em um hospital público geral de Minas Gerais: desafios e possibilidades / Desinstitucionalización en un hospital general público de Minas Gerais: retos y posibilidades / Dehospitalisation at a general hospital in Minas Gerais: challenges and prospects

Resumo OBJETIVO Analisar o processo de desospitalização em um hospital público geral de Minas Gerais na perspectiva dos diretores, dos profissionais de saúde e dos familiares. MÉTODO Estudo descritivo e exploratório, utilizando a abordagem qualitativa, com orientação teórico-metodológica da dialética. Participaram do estudo 24 profissionais de saúde e 15 familiares de usuários em processo de desospitalização. A coleta de dados ocorreu entre os meses de abril a junho em 2015, com entrevistas semiestruturadas e registros em diário de campo. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de conteúdo temática. RESULTADOS A análise do material empírico permitu a construção das categorias: Desospitalização: perspectiva da instituição e Organização da família para o processo de desospitalização. CONCLUSÃO Existem fragilidades no processo que envolve questões de implementação, sistematização, reorganização interna e continuidade após a desospitalização. Assim, as estratégias utilizadas para a desospitalização têm sido insuficientes para favorecer a integralidade e a continuidade do cuidado no domicílio.

Resumen OBJETIVO Analizar el proceso de desinstitucionalización de un hospital general público de Minas Gerais desde la perspectiva de los gestores, de los profesionales de la salud y de los familiares. MÉTODOS Estudio descriptivo y exploratorio de enfoque cualitativo con orientación teórico- metodológica de la dialéctica. Participaron 24 profesionales de la salud y 15 familiares de usuarios en proceso de desinstitucionalización. La recogida de datos se llevó a cabo entre abril y junio de 2015 con entrevistas semiestructuradas y registros en el diario de campo . Los datos recogidos fueron sometidos a análisis de contenido temático. RESULTADOS El análisis de los materiales empíricos permitu la construcción de categorías: la desinstitucionalización: Perspectiva institución y organización de la familia al proceso de desinstitucionalización. CONCLUSIÓN Se concluye que en el procesohay fragilidades que involucran cuestiones de implementación, sistematización, reorganización interna y continuidad después de la desinstitucionalización. Las estrategias empleadas para la desinstitucionalización no han sido suficientes para promover la integralidad y continuidad de los cuidados domiciliarios.

Abstract OBJECTIVE To analyse the dehospitalisation process at a general public hospital in Minas Gerais, Brazil, from the perspective of managers, health workers, users and their families. METHODS This is a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive study based on the principles of methodological and theoretical dialectics. The participants were 24 hospital health workers and 15 companions of users going through the process of dehospitalisation. Data were collected from April to June 2015 using semi-structured interviews and a field journal records and subsequently subjected to content analysis. RESULTS Analysis of the empirical material led to the construction of the following categories: Dehospitalisation: viewpoint of the institution and Family organisation for the dehospitalisation process. CONCLUSION The study reveals a deficiency in the implementation, systematisation, internal reorganisation and continuity of care after dehospitalisation. Current dehospitalisation strategies do not favour comprehensiveness and continuity of home care.

[Cost-effectiveness of an alternative tuberculosis treatment: home-based guardian monitoring of patients]. / Costo-efectividad de un tratamiento antituberculoso alternativo: seguimiento a convivientes residenciales de los pacientes.

OBJECTIVE: Estimate the cost-effectiveness ratio of the directly observed treatment short course (DOTS) for treatment of tuberculosis (TB), comparing it to a variation of this treatment that includes increased home-based guardian monitoring of patients (DOTS-R). METHODS: Taking a social perspective that includes the costs for the health institutions, the patients, and their family members, and for other entities that contribute to making operation of the program effective, the costs incurred with each of the two strategies were evaluated and the cost-effectiveness ratios were estimated adopting the measures of effect used by the control programs. The estimate of the cost of each of the two strategies includes the cost to the health institutions that administer treatment, the patients and their family members, and the cost to the Ministry of Health that manages public health programs on the municipal level. Based on these costs and the number of cases cured and treatments completed as outcome measures of each of the strategies evaluated, the cost-effectiveness ratio and incremental cost were calculated. RESULTS: The DOTS-R was found to be more cost-effective for achievement of successful treatments than the DOTS. The DOTS-R recorded costs of US$ 1 122.40 to US$ 1 152.70 for each case cured compared to values of US$ 1 137.00 to US$ 1 494.30 for the DOTS. The percentage of cases treated successfully was higher with DOTS-R than with DOTS. CONCLUSIONS: The DOTS-R is a promising cost-effective alternative for improved control of TB in endemic areas. It is recommended that the health authorities include home-based guardian monitoring of patients in their institutional management of the TB program, with the participation of health workers and the physical and financial resources that currently support this program.

Costo-efectividad de un tratamiento antituberculoso alternativo: seguimiento a convivientes residenciales de los pacientes / Cost-effectiveness of an alternative tuberculosis treatment: home-based guardian monitoring of patients

Objetivo. Estimar la relación de costo-efectividad del tratamiento de corta duración bajoobservación directa (DOTS), comparándolo con una variación de dicho tratamiento, que incluyeun mayor seguimiento a los convivientes residenciales de los pacientes (DOTS-R) parael tratamiento de tuberculosis (TB).Métodos. Tomando una perspectiva social que incluye los costos para las institucionesde salud, para los pacientes y sus familiares, y para otras entidades que contribuyen a hacerefectiva la operación del programa, se evaluaron los costos incurridos con cada una de las dosestrategias y se estimaron razones costo-efectividad adoptando las medidas de efecto usadas porlos programas de control. La estimación de los costos de cada una de las dos estrategias incluyelos correspondientes a las instituciones de salud que administran el tratamiento, los pacientesy sus familiares, y los de la secretaría de salud que gestiona los programas de salud pública anivel municipal. Con base en estos costos y el número de casos curados y tratamientos terminadoscomo medidas de resultado de cada una de las estrategias evaluadas, se calcularon lasrazones costo-efectividad y costo incremental.Resultados. El DOTS-R se halló más costo-efectivo para lograr tratamientos exitosos queel DOTS. El DOTS-R registró costos de entre US$ 1 122,4 y US$ 1 152,7 por caso curado,comparados con valores de entre US$ 1 137,0 y US$ 1 494,3 correspondientes al DOTS. Laproporción de casos tratados con éxito fue mayor con DOTS-R que con DOTS.Conclusiones. El DOTS-R es una alternativa costo-efectiva promisoria para mejorar elcontrol de la TB en sitios endémicos. Se recomienda a las autoridades del sector salud incorporaren su gestión institucional del programa contra la TB, acciones de seguimiento de losconvivientes de pacientes, con la participación del personal de salud y los recursos físicos yfinancieros que apoyan actualmente dicho programa.

Objective. Estimate the cost-effectiveness ratio of the directly observed treatmentshort course (DOTS) for treatment of tuberculosis (TB), comparing it to a variation ofthis treatment that includes increased home-based guardian monitoring of patients(DOTS-R).Methods. Taking a social perspective that includes the costs for the healthinstitutions, the patients, and their family members, and for other entities thatcontribute to making operation of the program effective, the costs incurred with eachof the two strategies were evaluated and the cost-effectiveness ratios were estimatedadopting the measures of effect used by the control programs. The estimate of the costof each of the two strategies includes the cost to the health institutions that administertreatment, the patients and their family members, and the cost to the Ministry ofHealth that manages public health programs on the municipal level. Based on thesecosts and the number of cases cured and treatments completed as outcome measuresof each of the strategies evaluated, the cost-effectiveness ratio and incremental costwere calculated.Results. The DOTS-R was found to be more cost-effective for achievement ofsuccessful treatments than the DOTS. The DOTS-R recorded costs of US$ 1 122.40 toUS$ 1 152.70 for each case cured compared to values of US$ 1 137.00 to US$ 1 494.30for the DOTS. The percentage of cases treated successfully was higher with DOTS-Rthan with DOTS.Conclusions. The DOTS-R is a promising cost-effective alternative for improvedcontrol of TB in endemic areas. It is recommended that the health authorities includehome-based guardian monitoring of patients in their institutional management of theTB program, with the participation of health workers and the physical and financialresources that currently support this program.

[Interdisciplinary home hospitalization program of Marília-SP: material resource costs]. / Programa interdisciplinar de internação domiciliar de Marília-SP: custos de recursos materiais consumidos.

This study estimated the mean total direct cost of some production factors (material resources), including consumption materials, diets, medication and solutions used by two patient groups during hospitalization in the Interdisciplinary Home Hospitalization Program (PROIID) of Marília-SP, Brazil. The sample consisted of 27 patients with a diagnosis of cerebral vascular accident (CVA) and 18 with Neoplasm. Data were collected from the moment of hospitalization until the patients left the program. The mean total direct cost amounted to R$ 52.72 for each patient with CVA and of R$ 65.13 for those with Neoplasm. For both patient groups, the sub-category of material--diets accounted for the highest percentage of costs.

Oxigenoterapia domiciliaria a largo plazo: necesidad apremiante en enfermos con insuficiencia respiratoria crónica / Long term domiciliary oxygen therapy: an urgent need in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

La EPOC y la insuficiencia respiratoria crónica constituyen un importante problema de salud pública. Está demostrado que la oxigenoterapía domiciliaria a largo plazo mejora la sobrevida y calidad de vida de estos pacientes. Por ello el Instituto Nacional del Tórax organizó en 1984 el Programa de Oxigenoterapia Domiciliaria, con el trabajo de un equipo de profesionales y con una estructura operacionalmente eficiente. Hasta diciembre 2001 han ingresado al programa 560 pacientes, actualmente 112 de ellos están en el programa. El 67,9 por ciento tiene el diagnóstico de EPOC y el 72 por ciento presenta insuficiencia respiratoria global. En una cohorte de 118 pacientes estudiados a su ingreso y 1 año después no encontramos diferencias en la gasometría arterial ni en la espirometría. Si se observó una disminución del número de hospitalizaciones y días cama utilizadas por los pacientes. La calidad de vida evaluada en los primeros 50 pacientes demostró disminución de sintomas angustiosos y depresivos, como también de los elementos de deterioro psico-orgánico. El mayor problema del programa es la lista de espera por la alta demanda de la terapia y los limitados recursos financieros. La oxigenoterapia domiciliaria es un tratamiento efectivo que mejora tanto la sobrevida como la calidad de vida de los enfermos. Es un servicio absolutamente necesario para los pacientes respiratorios crónicos y por la magnitud del problema requeriría de un Programa Nacional de Oxigeno-terapia Domiciliaria

Estudio comparativo de costos anuales en salud entre usuarios de oxígeno domiciliario y pacientes en lista de espera / Comparative study of health care costs for patients using home oxygen therapy or those in waiting lists

Background: Home oxygen therapy is the only intervention that significantly prolongs survival of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Since this therapy is expensive, it is imperative to calculate its cost-benefit ratio. Aim: To compare health care costs for patients in a home oxygen therapy program, with those of a similar group of patients in a waiting list for this therapy. Material and methods: A retrospective analysis of 21 patients on home oxygen therapy for 36 months or less and a group of 13 patients in the waiting list during a similar lapse. Medical consultations, drugs delivered and the cost of oxygen therapy were considered among ambulatory costs. Hospitalization costs included the number of days on regular or intermediary care beds, laboratory tests and drugs delivered. Results: The annual health care costs for patients on home oxygen therapy were 709,656 Chilean pesos and the costs for patients in the waiting list were 797,320 Chilean pesos. Conclusions: The overall health care costs of home oxygen therapy are similar to the costs required by patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease remaining in waiting lists

Predictors of cost of liver transplantation in children: a single center study.

OBJECTIVE: Efforts to decrease the cost of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) must address the impact of specific interventions on clinical outcome. We hypothesized that an intervention designed to decrease the length of hospitalization would reduce costs without jeopardizing clinical outcome. We further sought to identify predictors of length of stay and cost for hospitalization after liver transplantation. METHODS: The study group included 47 children who underwent OLT from September 1996 to April 1999, and the control group included 36 children who underwent OLT from March 1994 to August 1996. The intervention was a transition to home program in which patients were discharged to a family living center when they met established clinical criteria and their families met predefined educational goals. We analyzed patients who survived 3 months after OLT. RESULTS: For the intervention group, the mean length of stay, total costs, and surgical costs were 29%, 36%, and 34% lower, respectively. Organ type, height z score, race, hepatic artery thrombosis, early allograft rejection, and participation in the transition to home program predicted length of stay and total costs. CONCLUSION: An early discharge program based on defined criteria can be used to decrease length of stay and cost after OLT without jeopardizing clinical outcome.

Internación domiciliaria pediátrica: 10 años de experiencia / Pediatric home hospitalization: 10 years experience

La internación domiciliaria (ID), definida como la provisión de equipos y servicios médicos a un paciente en su domicilio, con el propósito de restaurar y mantener su máximo nivel de confort, actividad y salud, es una modalidad de la atención médica que ha tenido un gran desarrollo en las últimas décadas. El creciente número de niños que se reestablecen de problemas graves con secuelas y necesidad de asistencia y tecnología médica requieren internaciones prolongadas que los apartan del hogar e interfieren la posibilidad de mantener adecuadas relaciones familiares, esenciales para su crecimiento y desarrollo normal. La ID es una alternativa de atención para muchos de estos pacientes que les permite ser cuidados en sus hogares con la participación activa de sus familiares, quienes toman un papel activo en su atención. En el mes de Marzo de 1991 se estructuró un grupo de trabajo denominado Cuidar en su Casa (Cuidar) con el objetivo de desarrollar un programa de ID pediátrica. Con este propósito, estableció las normas de procedimiento para las diferentes patologías pediátricas pasibles de ser atendidas en ID y conformó un equipo médico multidisciplinario para desarrollar un programa. En los 10 años transcurridos desde marzo de 1991 a marzo de 2001, Cuidar atendió en ID 715 pacientes pediátricos durante un total de 38457 días... (TRUNCADO)(AU)

Internación domiciliaria pediátrica: 10 años de experiencia / Pediatric home hospitalization: 10 years experience

La internación domiciliaria (ID), definida como la provisión de equipos y servicios médicos a un paciente en su domicilio, con el propósito de restaurar y mantener su máximo nivel de confort, actividad y salud, es una modalidad de la atención médica que ha tenido un gran desarrollo en las últimas décadas. El creciente número de niños que se reestablecen de problemas graves con secuelas y necesidad de asistencia y tecnología médica requieren internaciones prolongadas que los apartan del hogar e interfieren la posibilidad de mantener adecuadas relaciones familiares, esenciales para su crecimiento y desarrollo normal. La ID es una alternativa de atención para muchos de estos pacientes que les permite ser cuidados en sus hogares con la participación activa de sus familiares, quienes toman un papel activo en su atención. En el mes de Marzo de 1991 se estructuró un grupo de trabajo denominado Cuidar en su Casa (Cuidar) con el objetivo de desarrollar un programa de ID pediátrica. Con este propósito, estableció las normas de procedimiento para las diferentes patologías pediátricas pasibles de ser atendidas en ID y conformó un equipo médico multidisciplinario para desarrollar un programa. En los 10 años transcurridos desde marzo de 1991 a marzo de 2001, Cuidar atendió en ID 715 pacientes pediátricos durante un total de 38457 días... (TRUNCADO)