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OBJECTIVE: The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (AWV)-a prevention-focused annual check-up-has been available to beneficiaries with Part B coverage since 2011. The objective of this study was to estimate the effect of Medicare AWVs on breast cancer screening and diagnosis. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SETTING: The National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results cancer registry data linked to Medicare claims (SEER-Medicare), HRSA's Area Health Resources Files, the FDA's Mammography Facilities database, and CMS "Mapping Medicare Disparities" utilization data from 2013 to 2015. STUDY DESIGN: Using an instrumental variables approach, we estimated the effect of AWV utilization on breast cancer screening and diagnosis, using county Welcome to Medicare Visit (WMV) rates as the instrument. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS: 66,088 person-year observations from 49,769 unique female beneficiaries. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: For every 1-percentage point increase in county WMV rate, the probability of AWV increased by 1.7 percentage points. Having an AWV was associated with a 22.4-percentage point increase in the probability of receiving a screening mammogram within 6 months ( P <0.001). There was no statistically significant increase in the probability of breast cancer diagnosis (overall or early stage) within 6 months of an AWV. Findings were robust to multiple model specifications. CONCLUSIONS: Performing routine cancer screening is an evidence-based practice for diagnosing earlier-stage, more treatable cancers. The AWV effectively increases breast cancer screening and may lead to more timely screening. Continued investment in Annual Wellness Visits supports breast cancer screening completion by women who are most likely to benefit, thus reducing the risk of overscreening and overdiagnosis.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms , Early Detection of Cancer , Medicare , SEER Program , Humans , Female , Breast Neoplasms/diagnosis , United States , Early Detection of Cancer/statistics & numerical data , Aged , Medicare/statistics & numerical data , Aged, 80 and over , Mammography/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Approximately 20% of the United States' population lives in a state or jurisdiction where medical aid in dying (MAiD) is legal. It is unknown how physicians' own barriers are associated with their provision of the spectrum of MAiD services. OBJECTIVE: To measure physicians' religious and/or ethical barriers to providing MAiD services and how such barriers relate to physicians' intentions and behaviors. DESIGN: Three-wave cross-sectional survey fielded in Colorado in 2020-2021. PARTICIPANTS: Physicians providing care to patients likely clinically eligible for MAiD according to probabilistic sampling. MAIN MEASURES: Physicians self-reported barriers to their own participation in MAiD. We considered large ethical and/or religious barriers to be conscience-based barriers. We measured physicians' self-reported intention to participate and self-reported prior participation in MAiD since it was legalized in Colorado in 2017. We estimated differences in intention and behavior outcomes according to presence of conscience-based barriers, adjusting for physician gender, race/ethnicity, time in practice, and specialty. KEY RESULTS: Among 300 respondents, 26% reported "large" ethical and/or religious barriers to their involvement in MAiD. Physicians with longer time in practice and those identifying as non-White were more likely to report conscience-based barriers to MAiD. Comparing physicians with and without conscience-based barriers to MAiD, we found no difference in ancillary participation (discussing, referring) but significant differences in direct participation (serving as consultant [5% vs. 31%] or attending [0% vs. 22%]). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately one-quarter of physicians likely to care for MAiD-eligible patients in Colorado reported religious and/or ethical barriers to MAiD. Despite religious and/or ethical barriers, the vast majority of physicians were willing to discuss MAiD and/or refer patients seeking MAiD services. These data provide important empirical foundation for policy from hospitals and health systems as well as medical specialty groups with official positions on MAiD.
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This survey study assesses whether patients communicating with a chatbot in a large health care system were able to accurately identify it as an unsupervised computer application.
Subject(s)
Artificial Intelligence , Patient Satisfaction , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Medicare's Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) was introduced in 2011 to encourage the utilization of preventive services, but many clinicians and patients still do not participate in the visit. We qualitatively and quantitatively assessed motivations and clinical and financial value of AWVs from a primary care perspective using interviews and Medicare claims from 2012 to 2019. Primary care providers with the highest acuity patients had AWV utilization rates 11.2 percentage points lower than providers with the lowest acuity patients; utilization rates were 3.8 percentage points lower in rural counties. Adoption was motivated by patient needs and financial incentives. AWVs closed gaps in preventive care, strengthened patient-provider relationships, facilitated advance care planning, and provided an opportunity to improve quality metrics. Overall, the AWV has the potential to increase the use of high-value preventive services although not all clinics have an economic incentive to adopt the visit, which may explain some of the variability in utilization rates.
Subject(s)
Medicare , Preventive Health Services , Aged , Humans , United States , Fee-for-Service PlansABSTRACT
Introduction: Racial and ethnic minority groups have higher rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection, severe illness, and death; however, they receive monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment at lower rates than non-Hispanic White patients. We report data from a systematic approach to improve equitable provision of COVID-19 neutralizing monoclonal antibody treatment. Methods: Treatment was administered at a community health urgent care clinic affiliated with a safety-net urban hospital. The approach included a stable treatment supply, a same-day test and treat model, a referral process, patient outreach, and financial support. We analyzed the race/ethnicity data descriptively and compared proportions using a chi-square test. Results: Over 17 months, 2524 patients received treatment. Compared to the demographics of county COVID-19-positive cases, a greater proportion of patients who received mAb treatment were Hispanic (44.7% treatment vs. 36.5% positive cases, p < 0.001), a lower proportion were White Non-Hispanic (40.7% treatment vs. 46.3% positive cases, p < 0.001), equal proportion were Black (8.2% treatment vs. 7.4% positive cases, P = 0.13), and equal proportion occurred for other race patients. Discussion: Implementation of multiple systematic strategies to administer COVID-19 monoclonal antibodies resulted in an equitable race/ethnic distribution of treatment.
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Introduction: Multi-level dissemination strategies are needed to increase equitable access to effective treatment for high-risk outpatients with COVID-19, particularly among patients from disproportionately affected communities. Yet assessing population-level impact of such strategies can be challenging. Methods: In collaboration with key contributors in Colorado, we conducted a retrospective cohort study to evaluate a multi-level dissemination strategy for neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment. Real-world data included county-level, de-identified output from a statewide mAb referral registry linked with publicly available epidemiological data. Outcomes included weekly number of mAb referrals, unique referring clinicians, and COVID-19 hospitalization rates. We assessed weekly changes in outcomes after dissemination strategies launched in July 2021. Results: Overall, mAb referrals increased from a weekly average of 3.0 to 15.5, with an increase of 1.3 to 42.1 additional referrals per county in each post-period week (p < .05). Number of referring clinicians increased from a weekly average of 2.2 to 9.7, with an additional 1.5 to 22.2 unique referring clinicians observed per county per week beginning 5 weeks post-launch (p < .001). Larger effects were observed in communities specifically prioritized by the dissemination strategies. There were no observed differences in COVID-19 hospitalization rates between counties with and without mAb treatment sites. Conclusion: Real-world data can be used to estimate population impact of multi-level dissemination strategies. The launch of these strategies corresponded with increases in mAb referrals, but no apparent population-level effects on hospitalization outcomes. Strengths of this analytic approach include pragmatism and efficiency, whereas limitations include inability to control for other contemporaneous trends.
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Neutralizing monoclonal antibody treatments for non-hospitalized patients with COVID-19 have been available since November 2020. However, they have been underutilized and access has been inequitable. To understand, from the clinician perspective, the factors facilitating or hindering monoclonal antibody referrals, patient access, and equity to inform development of clinician-focused messages, materials, and processes for improving access to therapeutics for COVID-19 in Colorado. We interviewed 38 frontline clinicians with experience caring for patients with COVID-19 in outpatient settings. Clinicians were purposely sampled for diversity to understand perspectives across geography (i.e., urban versus rural), practice setting, specialty, and self-reported knowledge about monoclonal antibodies. Interviews were conducted between June and September 2021, lasted 21 to 62 minutes, and were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Interview transcripts were then analyzed using rapid qualitative analysis to identify thematic content and to compare themes across practice settings and other variables. Clinicians perceived monoclonal antibodies to be highly effective and were unconcerned about their emergency use status; hence, these factors were not perceived to hinder patient referrals. However, some barriers to access - including complex and changing logistics for referring, as well as the time and facilities needed for an infusion - inhibited widespread use. Clinicians in small, independent, and rural practices experienced unique challenges, such as lack of awareness of their patients' COVID-19 test results, disconnect from treatment distribution systems, and patients who faced long travel times to obtain treatment. Many clinicians held a persistent belief that monoclonal antibodies were in short supply; this belief hindered referrals, even when monoclonal antibody doses were not scarce. Across practice settings, the most important facilitator for access to monoclonal antibodies was linkage of COVID-19 testing and treatment within care delivery. Although clinicians viewed monoclonal antibodies as safe and effective treatments for COVID-19, individual- and system-level barriers inhibited referrals, particular in some practice settings. Subcutaneous or oral formulations may overcome certain barriers to access, but simplifying patient access by linking testing with delivery of treatments that reduce morbidity and mortality will be critical for the ongoing response to COVID-19 and in future pandemics.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Outpatients , Humans , COVID-19 Testing , COVID-19/therapy , Qualitative Research , Referral and ConsultationABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Implementation of primary care models involving expanded scope of work and redesigned workflows for medical assistants (MAs) as primary care team members can be challenging. Implementation strategies and participatory evaluation informed by implementation science frameworks may inform organizational decisions about model scale-up and sustainment. OBJECTIVE: This paper reports implementation strategies and qualitative evaluation of a primary care redesign (PCR) model implementation that included an expanded scope of work for MAs. DESIGN: Qualitative evaluation of implementation strategies and clinician and staff experience with implementation of PCR using semi-structured key informant interviews. The evaluation was guided by the RE-AIM framework and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-nine clinicians, staff, practice leaders, and administrators from 7 primary care practices (4 general internal medicine, 3 family medicine) implementing PCR. INTERVENTIONS: The PCR model included enhanced rooming and documentation support. The health system used multiple strategies to implement PCR, including rapid improvement events, changing clinic space configurations, developing electronic health record templates and performance dashboards, and practice coaching. APPROACH: The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and the RE-AIM evaluation and planning framework guided development of semi-structured interview guides. A deductive, structural coding approach was used for analysis. KEY RESULTS: PCR implementation was facilitated by clear communication about the intervention source, mechanisms for feedback about model goals, and physical environments and electronic health record (EHR) systems that supported the added staff and modified clinic workflow. Clinicians and staff benefited from the ability to see the model in action prior to go-live and opportunities for consistent provider-MA pairings. CONCLUSIONS: The PCR model can support achieving the Quadruple Aim when fully implemented with paired MAs and clinicians who are well prepared to follow redesigned workflows and function as a team. Implementation can be effectively supported by a participatory evaluation guided by implementation science frameworks.
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Allied Health Personnel , Primary Health Care , Ambulatory Care Facilities , Electronic Health Records , Humans , Implementation Science , Qualitative ResearchABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Collection of disability status in electronic health records (EHRs) is critical to addressing the significant health care disparities experienced by patients with disabilities. Despite this, little evidence exists to inform implementation. METHODS: This pilot trial evaluated the implementation of collection of patients' disability status during primary care new patient registration by centralized call center staff. The study took place over six weeks at an academic hospital system in Colorado. Staff received a 30-minute training on how to ask and document disability status in the EHR. Completion rate of collection, fidelity, and concordance were assessed through chart reviews and recordings of patient registration calls. Focus groups with staff and phone interviews with patients assessed the experience of including disability screeners in patient registration. RESULTS: A total of 3,673 new patients were registered at one of the 53 primary care clinics during the study period. Completion of disability status in the EHR increased from 9.5% at baseline to 53.5% by the last week of the trial, which was then maintained for eight weeks. Challenges were identified in the recorded calls with fidelity of if and how the questions were asked. No patient complaints were reported, and patients reported no concerns regarding collection of disability status during interviews. CONCLUSION: Documenting disability status during patient registration was effective and was not concerning to patients. To make initial steps to providing equitable care, efforts should be made to implement this type of screening universally across the clinical encounter.
Subject(s)
Disabled Persons , Electronic Health Records , Focus Groups , Humans , Patients , Primary Health CareABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to understand pediatric urologists' perceived role of patient characteristics on discussions about treatment of infants with suspected UPJ obstruction. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews with pediatric urologists from three geographically diverse sites. Interview domains included: clinical indications for surgery, discussions with parents, and consideration of parent socioeconomic factors. Transcribed data and field notes were analyzed using a team-based, inductive grounded theory approach. RESULTS: Thirteen physicians were interviewed. Physicians reported a standardized approach to discussions to facilitate parental understanding. While they did not report overt consideration of demographics, they tailored discussions based on educational and cultural background and language barriers. Physicians also reported that concerns about risk of loss to follow up contributed to their treatment recommendations. Most physicians recognized that the lack of clear data often led to use of personal experience to guide recommendations. CONCLUSION: Physicians recognize a gap in data to guide surgical decisions and utilize personal experience to augment this gap. They also recognize the influence of educational and language barriers on discussions with families and consider risk of loss to follow up when making recommendations, suggesting an implicit consideration of demographics. These findings suggest that development of evidence-based guidelines may reduce treatment variations. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Not applicable (qualitative research study written in compliance with COREQ guidelines).
Subject(s)
Physicians , Ureteral Obstruction , Child , Humans , Infant , Parents , Qualitative Research , Ureteral Obstruction/surgery , UrologistsABSTRACT
Objectives. To examine changes in the scope of activity and organizational composition of public health delivery systems serving rural and urban US communities between 2014 and 2018.Methods. We used data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Public Health Systems to measure the implementation of recommended public health activities and the network of organizations contributing to these activities in a nationally representative cohort of US communities. We used multivariable regression models to test for rural-urban differences between 2014 and 2018.Results. The scope of recommended activities implemented in rural areas declined by 3.4 percentage points between 2014 and 2018, whereas it increased by 1.4 percentage points in urban areas. The rural-urban disparity in scope of activities grew by a total of 4.8 percentage points (P < .05) over this time. The disparity in network density grew by 2.3 percentage points (P < .05).Conclusions. Urban public health systems have enhanced their scope of activities and organizational networks since 2014, whereas rural systems have lost capacity. These trends suggest that system improvement initiatives have had uneven success, and they may contribute to growing rural-urban disparities in population health status.
Subject(s)
Public Health/statistics & numerical data , Rural Health Services/statistics & numerical data , Urban Health Services/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Public Health Administration/statistics & numerical data , Rural Health Services/organization & administration , United States , Urban Health Services/organization & administrationABSTRACT
Objectives. To examine the extent to which social service organizations participate in the organizational networks that implement public health activities in US communities, consistent with recent national recommendations.Methods. Using data from a national sample of US communities, we measured the breadth and depth of engagement in public health activities among specific types of social and community service organizations.Results. Engagement was most prevalent (breadth) among organizations providing housing and food assistance, with engagement present in more than 70% of communities. Engagement was least prevalent among economic development, environmental protection, and law and justice organizations (less than 33% of communities). Depth of engagement was shallow and focused on a narrow range of public health activities.Conclusions. Cross-sector relationships between public health and the housing and food sectors are now widespread across the United States, giving most communities viable avenues for addressing selected social determinants of health. Relationships with many other social and community service organizations are more limited.Public Health Implications. Public health leaders should prioritize opportunities for engagement with low-connectivity social sectors in their communities such as law, justice, and economic development.
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Intersectoral Collaboration , Public Health Administration/statistics & numerical data , Social Work/statistics & numerical data , Cooperative Behavior , Humans , Public Health , Social Welfare/statistics & numerical data , United StatesABSTRACT
Qualitative methodologies and methods are commonly used in health policy and systems research but have not been extensively characterized. We describe how qualitative approaches are used within the field and present a framework to aid researchers in study planning. To achieve these aims, we conducted a scoping literature review of 1 year of selected health policy and systems research and then coded publications based on their primary analytical foci. Four core themes emerged: policy or program content, an analysis of the substance of policies or program documents; policy or program environment, a study of the landscape of policies or programs; policy or program implementation, a study of the planned or actual execution of a policy or program; and organization or system operations, a study of the structure or function of health organizations or systems. We provide guidance on utilizing the framework and adhering to qualitative best practices during the process.
Subject(s)
Health Policy , Research Design , Health Services Research , Humans , Qualitative ResearchABSTRACT
CONTEXT: Sustaining electronic health data networks and maximizing return on federal investment in their development is essential for achieving national data insight goals for transforming health care. However, crossing the business model chasm from grant funding to self-sustaining viability is challenging. CASE DESCRIPTION: This paper presents lessons learned in seeking the sustainability of the Scalable Architecture for Federated Translational Inquiries Network (SAFTINet), and electronic health data network involving over 50 primary care practices in three states. SAFTINet was developed with funding from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to create a multi-state network for comparative effectiveness research (CER) involving safety-net patients. METHODS: Three analyses were performed: (1) a product gap analysis of alternative data sources; (2) a Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threat (SWOT) analysis of SAFTINet in the context of competing alternatives; and (3) a customer discovery process involving approximately 150 SAFTINet stakeholders to identify SAFTINet's sustaining value proposition for health services researchers, clinical data partners, and policy makers. FINDINGS: The results of this business model analysis informed SAFTINet's sustainability strategy. The fundamental high-level product needs were similar between the three primary customer segments: credible data, efficient and easy to use, and relevance to their daily work or 'jobs to be done'. However, how these benefits needed to be minimally demonstrated varied by customer such that different supporting evidence was required. MAJOR THEMES: The SAFTINet experience illustrates that commercialization-readiness and business model methods can be used to identify multi-sided value propositions for sustaining electronic health data networks and their data capabilities as drivers of health care transformation.
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BACKGROUND: Organizational health literacy (OHL) is the degree to which health care organizations implement strategies to make it easier for patients to understand health information, navigate the health care system, engage in the health care process, and manage their health. Although resources exist to guide OHL-related quality improvement (QI) initiatives, little work has been done to establish measures that organizations can use to monitor their improvement efforts. OBJECTIVE: We sought to identify and evaluate existing OHL-related QI measures. To complement prior efforts to develop measures based on patient-reported data, we sought to identify measures computed from clinical, administrative, QI, or staff-reported data. Our goal was to develop a set of measures that experts agree are valuable for informing OHL-related QI activities. METHODS: We used four methods to identify relevant measures computed from clinical, administrative, QI, or staff-reported data. We convened a Technical Expert Panel, published a request for measures, conducted a literature review, and interviewed 20 organizations working to improve OHL. From the comprehensive list of measures identified, we selected a set of high-priority measures for review by a second expert panel. Using a modified Delphi review process, panelists rated measures on four evaluation criteria, participated in a teleconference to discuss areas of disagreement among panelists, and rerated all measures. KEY RESULTS: Across all methods, we identified 233 measures. Seventy measures underwent Delphi Panel review. For 22 measures, there was consensus among panelists that the measures were useful, meaningful, feasible, and had face validity. Five additional measures received strong ratings for usefulness, meaningfulness, and face validity, but failed to show consensus among panelists regarding feasibility. CONCLUSIONS: We identified OHL-related QI measures that have the support of experts in the field. Although additional measure development and testing is recommended, the Consensus OHL QI Measures are appropriate for immediate use. [HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2019;3(2):e127-e146.]. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: The health care system is complex. Health care organizations can make things easier for patients by making changes to improve communication and to help patients find their way around, become engaged in the health care process, and manage their health. We identify 22 measures that organizations can use to monitor their efforts to improve communication with and support for patients.
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RATIONALE: The San Luis Valley in rural Colorado often has elevated levels of ambient particulate matter. To date little is known about the impact of ambient particulate matter levels and medical care utilization due to asthma exacerbation in rural communities. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the impact of ambient particulate matter concentrations on emergency/urgent visits and hospitalizations for asthma in a rural community. METHODS: Daily ambient particulate matter concentrations from an air quality monitor in the San Luis Valley (2003-2012) were obtained from the state health department. Deidentified data for emergency/urgent visits with a diagnosis code for asthma were collected from the local health care system organization. A generalized linear model using splines and employing generalized estimating equations for correlated measures over time was used to examine the association between daily counts of emergency/urgent visits for asthma and 3- to 5-day averaged ambient particulate matter concentrations. RESULTS: For each 15-µg/m3 increase in 3-day averaged ambient particulate matter, there was an associated 3.1% increase in hospital counts for all patients with asthma (95% confidence interval, 0.3-5.9%; P = 0.03). When the 3-day average exceeded 50 µg/m3, asthma hospital visits increased by 16.8% (P = 0.03), and when it exceeded 100 µg/m3, visits increased by 65.8% (P = 0.002). In children, the odds of one asthma event requiring an emergency/urgent care visit increased 5.0% with each 15-µg/m3 increase in 3-day averaged ambient particulate matter (P = 0.22). CONCLUSIONS: We observed associations between ambient air levels of particulate matter with a diameter less than 10 µm and emergency/urgent care visits and hospitalization counts in a rural U.S. community prone to dust storms and Environmental Protection Agency exceedances.
Subject(s)
Ambulatory Care/statistics & numerical data , Asthma/physiopathology , Emergency Service, Hospital/statistics & numerical data , Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data , Particulate Matter , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Asthma/epidemiology , Child , Child, Preschool , Colorado/epidemiology , Disease Progression , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Rural Population , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: A main concern that remains with the continued growth of online nursing education programs is the way educator and student relationships can be affected by new technologies. This interpretive study aims to gain an understanding of how technology influences the development of interpersonal relationships between the student and faculty in a virtual learning environment. METHOD: Using an established structured approach to qualitative metasynthesis, a search was conducted using PubMed, EBSCO, CINAHL, Medline, ProQuest, Ovid Nursing databases, and Google Scholar, focused on caring and relational aspects of online nursing education. RESULTS: Technology alters communication, thereby positioning the intentionality of the educator at the heart of interpersonal relationship development in virtual learning spaces. CONCLUSION: This interpretive synthesis of prior qualitative research supports the development of a framework for online nursing courses, the need for continuing education of nursing faculty, the value of caring intentions, and enhancement of the educator's technological proficiency. [J Nurs Educ. 2018;57(4):197-202.].
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Education, Nursing , Educational Technology , Faculty, Nursing/psychology , Intention , Interpersonal Relations , Students, Nursing/psychology , Virtual Reality , Empathy , Humans , Learning , Nursing Education Research , Nursing Evaluation Research , Qualitative ResearchABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate effectiveness of a community health worker (CHW) program designed to address client objectives among frequent emergency department (ED) users. DESIGN: Program evaluation using secondary analysis of client objectives from program records. Client objectives were characterized according to the World Health Organization's social determinants of health framework. Hierarchical generalized linear modeling was used to assess factors associated with objective achievement. SETTING: An ED and the surrounding community in an economically disadvantaged area of Buffalo, New York. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1600 adults over age 18 eligible for Medicaid and/or Medicare and who had at least 2 ED visits in the prior year. INTERVENTION: Clients worked with CHWs in the community to identify diverse needs and objectives. Community health workers provided individualized services to help achieve objectives. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Achievement of client-focused objectives. RESULTS: Most objectives pertained to linkage to community resources and health care navigation, emphasizing chronic medical conditions and connection to primary care. Clients and CHWs together achieved 43% of total objectives. Objective achievement was positively associated with greater client engagement in CHW services. CONCLUSIONS: Low objective achievement may stem from system- and policy-level barriers, such as lack of affordable housing and access to primary care. Strategies for improving client engagement in CHW services are needed. Community health workers and their clients were most successful in areas in which public health policies and systems made resources easy to access or where the program had formalized relationships with resources, such as primary care.
Subject(s)
Community Health Workers/trends , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/statistics & numerical data , Adult , Aged , Emergency Service, Hospital/organization & administration , Emergency Service, Hospital/statistics & numerical data , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , New York , Program Evaluation/methodsABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Application of the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance (RE-AIM) framework using mixed methods to evaluate a collaborative care practice implementation can inform the literature on real-world collaborative care experiences. METHOD: Two primary care practices serving Niagara Falls, NY, implemented collaborative care. Adults age 18 and over were screened at least annually for depression, anxiety, and alcohol use using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder questionnaire (GAD-7), and the AUDIT alcohol consumption questionnaire (AUDIT-C). Primary care clinicians referred patients screening positive to the on-site behavioral health care manager (BHCM) with warm handoffs; the BHCM used a mixed therapeutic approach, initiated consultations with a psychiatrist and a community resource liaison as needed, in collaboration with the clinician. External evaluators used mixed methods to assess collaborative care services' RE-AIM. RESULTS: Nearly 40% of patients screened positive for at least one behavioral healthcare (BH) concern or were referred to BH services upon clinician judgment. Of these patients, 43% were referred to integrated BH services, of whom 86% accepted and 54% actually participated in services. There were no differences in changes in symptoms between those who did and did not participate in services. Patients reported the services were valuable and helped build skills for coping with complex health conditions and psychosocial issues. DISCUSSION: Evaluation of collaborative care using the RE-AIM framework may help others systematically evaluate programs, identify local improvement opportunities, and contribute to the broad literature on integrated care dissemination and implementation. (PsycINFO Database Record
Subject(s)
Cooperative Behavior , Mass Screening/methods , Primary Health Care/methods , Aged , Alcohol Drinking , Anxiety/diagnosis , Depression/diagnosis , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , New York , Psychometrics/instrumentation , Psychometrics/methods , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures offer value for clinicians and researchers, although priorities and value propositions can conflict. PRO implementation in clinical practice may benefit from stakeholder engagement methods to align research and clinical practice stakeholder perspectives. The objective is to demonstrate the use of stakeholder engagement in PRO implementation. METHOD: Engaged stakeholders represented researchers and clinical practice representatives from the SAFTINet practice-based research network (PBRN). A stakeholder engagement process involving iterative analysis, deliberation, and decision making guided implementation of a medication adherence PRO measure (the Medication Adherence Survey [MAS]) for patients with hypertension and/or hyperlipidemia. RESULTS: Over 9 months, 40 of 45 practices (89%) implemented the MAS, collecting 3,247 surveys (mean = 72, median = 30, range: 0 - 416). Facilitators included: an electronic health record (EHR) with readily modifiable templates; existing staff, tools and workflows in which the MAS could be integrated (e.g., health risk appraisals, hypertension-specific visits, care coordinators); and engaged leadership and quality improvement teams. CONCLUSION: Stakeholder engagement appeared useful for promoting PRO measure implementation in clinical practice, in a way that met the needs of both researchers and clinical practice stakeholders. Limitations of this approach and opportunities for improving the PRO data collection infrastructure in PBRNs are discussed.