Focusing on Provider Quality Measurement: Continued Consensus and Feasibility Testing of Practice-Based Quality Measures for Primary Care Providers in Long-Term Care.

Medical providers in long-term care (LTC) use a unique skillset in delivering comprehensive resident care. Publicly reported quality measures (QMs) do not directly emphasize medical provider competency and their role in care. The impact of providers is understudied and to a large extent, unknown. Our objective was to define, test, and validate QMs to pragmatically measure the practice-based quality of medical providers in a pilot study. We included 7 North American LTC homes with data from practicing medical providers for LTC residents. We engaged in a 4-phased approach. In phase 1, experts rated 95 candidate QMs using 5 pragmatic-focused criteria in a RAND-modified Delphi process. Phase 2 involved specifying 37 QMs for collection (4 QMs were dropped during pilot testing). We created an abstraction manual and data collection tool for all QMs. Phase 3 involved a retrospective chart review in 7 LTC homes on 33 QMs with trained data abstractors. Data were sufficient to analyze performance for 26 QMs. Lastly, in phase 4 results and psychometric properties were reviewed with an expert panel. They ranked the tested measures for validity and feasibility for use by a nonphysician auditor to evaluate medical provider performance based on medical record review. In total, we examined data from 343 resident charts from 7 LTC homes and 49 providers. Our process yielded 10 QMs as being specified for measurement, feasible to collect, and had good test performance. This is the only study to systematically identify a subset of QMs for feasible collection from the medical record by various data collectors. This pragmatic approach to measuring practice-based quality and quantifying select medical provider competencies allows for the evaluation of individual and facility-level performance and facilitates quality improvement initiatives. Future work should perform broader testing and validate and refine operationalized QMs.

Development of an Advance Care Planning Policy within an Evidenced-Based Evaluation Framework.

Background: As the population is aging and medical advancements enable people to live longer, advance care planning (ACP) becomes increasingly important in guiding future care decisions; however, they are often incomplete or absent from the patient chart. This study describes the development and implementation of an ACP policy in a post-acute care and long-term care setting using a systematic implementation framework. Methods: A process evaluation that parallels the Replicating Effective Programs (REP) framework was used to understand stakeholder experiences with ACP and identify gaps in practice. Physicians, multidisciplinary staff, patients, and substitute decision makers engaged in focus groups and interviews, and completed surveys. A retrospective chart review determined Plan for Life Sustaining Treatment (PLST) form completion rates. Results: Stakeholder feedback identified barriers and facilitators to ACP including a need for staff training, user-friendly resources, and standardization of ACP practice. The PLST form was developed and embedded in the electronic medical record, and had a 92% and an 87% PLST completion rate on 2 pilot units. Conclusion: The study showed the usefulness of the REP model in guiding the evaluation as an effective tool to enhance implementation practices and inform ACP policy development that can be replicated in other organizations.

Integrating Palliative Care Assessment Tools to Enhance Understanding of Illness Trajectory in Post-Acute Care and Long-Term Care.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether education and integration of the Gold Standard Framework Proactive Identification Guidance (GSF-PIG) and the Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) into care rounds, in post-acute care settings, can facilitate communication between the interprofessional care team to enhance understanding of illness trajectories, identifying those who would benefit from a palliative approach to care. METHODS: Interprofessional care teams received training on the GSF-PIG and PPS which were integrated into weekly care rounds and completed a post-evaluation survey. A chart review was conducted for the 40 patients and residents reviewed with the GSF-PIG and PPS. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and comparisons of characteristics between patients and residents who were grouped as positive or negative on the GFS-PIG surprise question using chi square analyzes and t-tests. RESULTS: The GSF-PIG and PPS were found to enhance communication within care teams and enhance understanding of patient and resident's illness burden. The chart review revealed that patients and residents whom the team would not be surprised if they died within 1 year were older (p = .002), had a lower PPS score (p = .002) and had more indicators of decline (p < .001) compared to patients and residents the team would be surprised if they died within the year. CONCLUSION: Training interprofessional care teams on the utilization and integration of the GSF-PIG and PPS during weekly care rounds helped increase the understanding of patient and resident illness burden and illness trajectory to identify those who may benefit from a palliative approach to care.

Factors Associated With Hospitalization by Veterans in Home-Based Primary Care.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the extent to which program site-based and Veteran characteristics were associated with potentially avoidable hospitalizations or other hospitalization of Veterans enrolled in the Veterans Affairs (VA) Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC). DESIGN: Retrospective claims-based study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: HBPC programs that responded to a national survey of HBPC programs (n = 189) in fiscal year (FY) 2016 were studied. Veterans in the analysis cohort were identified as having been enrolled in VA-HBPC in FY2016 who had not received care by VA-HBPC within 1 year prior to their first HBPC enrollment in FY2016 (N = 8497). METHODS: Multinomial logistic regression analysis with 5 outcome categories within the 6 months following the first HBPC enrollment date: (1) any potentially avoidable hospitalizations for ambulatory care-sensitive conditions (ACSC) as identified by AHRQ Prevention Quality Indicator (PQI), (2) any other hospitalizations for non-ACSC conditions, (3) died during study period, (4) discharged from HBPC, or (5) remained at home with HBPC. Average marginal effects (AME) of veteran-level and VA-HBPC-level covariates are reported for each of the outcome categories. RESULTS: More frail Veterans and Veterans 85 years old or older were more likely to have potentially preventable ACSC hospitalizations (AME = 5.4%, 1.8%, respectively). Veterans who were younger than 75 years, functionally impaired, bed-bound, or frail were more likely to have non-ACSC hospitalization (AME = 3.0%, 2.2%, 3.5%, and 9.0%, respectively). Veterans with low frailty index scores were less likely to have non-ACSC hospitalizations (AME = -17.1%). Six-month hospitalization patterns were not associated with reported HBPC site characteristics. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Within the framework of the national VA HBPC program, variations in the structural model used at HBPC sites are not significantly associated with hospitalizations. Tailoring of HBPC care, based on individual patient factors and clinical judgment rather than standard protocols, may be central to the success of HBPC in reducing ACSC hospitalizations.

Using Standardized Tools to Characterize Adult Day Program Populations: Implications for Future Research and Clinical Practice.

OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate the usefulness of primary data collection using clinician-rated and self-rated standardized measures to describe adult day program (ADP) populations and address programming issues such as identifying members at risk of dropping out. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: One ADP in London, Ontario, and 2 ADPs in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. A total of 223 community-dwelling older adults were recruited across the 3 different programs. METHODS: The interRAI Community Health or Home Care Assessment and self-rated psychosocial assessments were collected on program enrollment. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, comparison of the populations between ADPs, and multinomial regression models to assess reasons for program withdrawal. RESULTS: Mean ages across the 3 programs ranged from 78.3 to 83.8 years and the proportion of women ranged from 49.3% to 56.6%. Compared with one of the ADPs, members from 2 other ADPs exhibited higher use of mobility aids (P < .001), higher levels of cognitive impairment (P < .05), increased risk for institutionalization (P < .001), lower levels of depression (P < .01), and greater need for supervision for basic and instrumental activities of daily living (P < .01). Members assessed to be at higher risk for institutionalization and have increased medical complexity showed possible association with program withdrawal at one ADP. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The tools were useful in identifying differences in physical and psychosocial characteristics of members across the 3 ADPs. Information collected from interRAI and self-rated psychosocial assessments may be helpful in the development of individualized care plans, program services, and recommendations that target transitional care. By understanding member profiles and reasons for withdrawal, ADPs may be able to develop strategies to help members stay in the program and live in the community longer.

Medical Care Delivery in U.S. Nursing Homes: Current and Future Practice.

The delivery of medical care services in U.S. nursing homes (NHs) is dependent on a workforce that comprises physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. Each of these disciplines operates under a unique regulatory framework while adhering to common standards of care. NH provider characteristics and their roles in NH care can illuminate potential links to clinical outcomes and overall quality of care with important policy and cost implications. This perspective provides an overview of what is currently known about medical provider practice in NH and organizational models of practice. Links to quality, both conceptual and established, are presented as is a research and policy agenda that addresses the gaps in the evidence base within the context of our ever-changing health care landscape.

Medical Staffing Organization and Quality of Care Outcomes in Post-acute Care Settings.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Medical providers are significant drivers of care in post-acute long-term care (PALTC) settings, yet little research has examined the medical provider workforce and its role in ensuring quality of care. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This study examined the impact of nursing home medical staffing organization (NHMSO) dimensions on the quality of care in U.S. nursing homes. The principal data source was a survey specifically designed to study medical staff organization for post-acute care. Respondents were medical directors and attending physicians providing PALTC. We linked a number of medical provider and nursing home characteristics to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services Nursing Home Compare quality measures hypothesized to be sensitive to input by medical providers. RESULTS: From the sample of nursing home medical providers surveyed (n = 1,511), 560 responses were received, yielding a 37% response rate; 425 medical provider responses contained sufficient data for analysis. The results of the impact of NHMSO dimensions were mixed, with many domains not having any significance or having negative relationships between provider characteristics and quality measures. Respondents who reported having a formal process for granting privileges and nursing homes with direct employment of physicians reported significantly fewer emergency visits. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Further research is needed regarding what quality measures are sensitive to both medical provider characteristics and NHMSO characteristics.

Benchmarking Site of Death and Hospice Use: A Case Study of Veterans Cared by Department of Veterans Affairs Home-based Primary Care.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine site of death and hospice use, identifying potential disparities among veterans dying in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Home Based Primary Care (VA-HBPC). METHODS: Administrative data (2008, 2012, and 2016) were compiled using the VA Residential-History-File which tracks health care service location, daily. Outcomes were site of death [home, nursing home (NH), hospital, inpatient hospice]; and hospice use on the day of death. We compared VA-HBPC rates to rates of 2 decedent benchmarks: VA patients and 5% Traditional Medicare non-veteran males. Potential age, race, urban/rural residence and living alone status disparities in rates among veterans dying in VA-HBPC in 2016 were examined by multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: In 2016, 7796 veterans died in VA-HBPC of whom 62.1% died at home, 11.8% in NHs, 14.7% in hospitals and 11.4% in inpatient hospice. Hospice was provided to 60.9% of veterans dying at home and 63.9% of veterans dying in NH. Over the 2008-2012-2016 period, rates of VA-HBPC veterans who died at home and rates of home death with hospice increased and were higher than both benchmarks. Among VA-HBPC decedents, younger/older veterans were more/less likely to die at home and less/more likely to die with hospice. Race/ethnicity and urban/rural residence were unrelated to death at home but veterans living alone were less likely to die at home. CONCLUSIONS: Results reflect VA-HBPC's primary goal of supporting its veterans at home, including at the end-of-life, surpassing other population benchmarks with some potential disparities remaining.

Perceived Effectiveness of Home-Based Primary Care Teams in Veterans Health Administration.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have shown that staff perception of team effectiveness is related to better health outcomes in various care settings. This study focused on the Veterans Health Administration's Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) program. We examined variations in HBPC interdisciplinary teamwork (IDT) and identified modifiable team and program characteristics that may influence staff perceptions of team effectiveness. RESEARCH DESIGN: We used a broadly validated survey instrument to measure perceived team effectiveness, workplace conditions/resources, group culture, and respondents' characteristics. Surveys were initiated in January and completed in July, 2016. METHODS: Team membership rosters (n = 249) included 2,852 IDT members. The final analytical data set included 1,403 surveys (49%) from 221 (89%) teams. A generalized estimating equation model with logit link function, weighted by survey response rates, was used to examine factors associated with perceived team effectiveness. RESULTS: Respondents who served as primary care providers (PCPs) were 8% more likely (p = .0044) to view team's performance as highly effective compared to other team members. Teams with nurse practitioners serving as team leader reported 6% higher likelihood of high-perceived team effectiveness (p = .0234). High team effectiveness was 13% more likely in sites where the predominant culture was characterized as group/developmental, and 7%-8% more likely in sites with lower environmental stress and better resources and staffing, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Team effectiveness is an important indirect measure of HBPC teams' function. HBPC teams should examine their predominant culture, workplace stress, resources and staffing, and PCP leadership model as part of their quality improvement efforts.

Dedicated to the Mission: Strategies US Department of Veterans Affairs Home-Based Primary Care Teams Apply to Keep Veterans at Home.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) Program provides interdisciplinary, long-term primary care for frail, disabled, or chronically ill veterans. This research identifies strategies used by HBPC teams to support veterans in their homes, rather than in institutionalized care. DESIGN: Focus groups and semistructured interviews were conducted with HBPC interdisciplinary team (IDT) members, including program directors, medical directors, and key staff, from September 2017 to March 2018. Field observations were gathered during visits to veterans' homes and IDT meetings. SETTING: In-person site visits were conducted at eight HBPC Programs across the United States. Sites varied in location, setting, and primary care model. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 105 HBPC professionals. MEASUREMENT: Qualitative thematic content analysis. RESULTS: Four main strategies drive and support the shared mission of IDTs to support veterans at home: fostering frequent communication among IDT members, veterans, caregivers, and outside agencies; development of longitudinal, trusting, reliable relationships within IDTs and with veterans and caregivers; ongoing, consistent education for IDT members and veterans and caregivers; and collaboration within and outside IDTs. Adhering to this mission meant providing timely and efficient care that kept veterans in their homes and minimized the need for acute hospitalizations and nursing home placement. CONCLUSION: HBPC IDTs studied worked together across disciplines to effectively create a dedicated culture of caring for veterans, caregivers, and themselves, leading to keeping veterans at home. Focusing on the strategies identified in this research may be useful to achieve similar positive outcomes when caring for medically complex, homebound patients within and outside the VA. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:2511-2518, 2019.

Telehealth in Home-Based Primary Care: Factors and Challenges Associated With Integration Into Veteran Care.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the structural characteristics and challenges associated with home telehealth (HT) use in the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) program. DESIGN: We designed a national survey to collect information about HBPC program structural characteristics. The survey included eight organizational and service domains, one of which was HT. HBPC program directors were surveyed online using REDCap. PARTICIPANTS: We received 232 surveys from 394 HBPC sites (59% response rate). METHODS: HBPC structural domains were compared between sites using and not using HT technology. Open-ended responses were analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS: A total of 127 sites (76%) used HT, which was more likely when HBPC sites were aligned organizationally with the VA's Geriatrics and Extended Care Services division, when there were more disciplines on the HBPC team, and when primary care providers made home visits. Program directors overwhelmingly viewed HT as contributing to managing veterans' complex chronic conditions (81%), yet HT data were not readily integrated into care planning (24%). Challenges to HT use included veterans' acceptance and adherence, device issues, and collaboration between HBPC teams and HT staff. CONCLUSION: Corresponding to HBPC's complexity, HT use is primarily a self-organizing process that shapes the patterns of integration at each site. Although HT technology is compatible with core structures of the HBPC model, usability varies, and overall is low. To optimize HT use in HBPC, there are opportunities to redesign systems to mitigate challenges to adoption. As the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' strives to increase access to both HBPC and telehealth benefits, evidenced by the continuation of its successful Independence at Home demonstration and the final changes in the proposed rule in April 2019 incorporating additional telehealth benefits for beneficiaries, this information will be relevant to VA and non-VA alike. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:1928-1933, 2019.

Interdisciplinary Team Perspectives on Mental Health Care in VA Home-Based Primary Care: A Qualitative Study.

OBJECTIVES: This qualitative study describes the structure and processes of providing care to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) enrollees with mental health care needs; explains the role of the HBPC psychologist; and describes how mental health treatment is integrated into care from the perspective of HBPC team members. DESIGN: HBPC programs were selected for in-person site visits based on initial surveys and low hospitalization rates. SETTING: Programs varied in setting, geographic locations, and primary care model. PARTICIPANTS: Eight site visits were completed. During visits, key informants including HBPC program directors, medical directors, team members, and other key staff involved with the HBPC program participated in semi-structured individual and group interviews. MEASUREMENTS: Recorded interviews, focus groups, and field observation notes. RESULTS: Qualitative thematic content analysis revealed four themes: 1) HBPC Veterans have not only complex physical needs but also co-occurring mental health needs; 2) the multi-faceted role of psychologists on HBPC teams, that includes providing care for Veterans and support for colleagues; 3) collaboration between medical and mental health providers as a means of caring for HBPC Veterans with mental health needs; and 4) gaps in providing mental health care on HBPC teams, primarily related to a lack of team psychiatrists and/or need for specialized medication management for psychiatric illness. CONCLUSIONS: Mental health providers are essential to HBPC teams. Given the significant mental health care needs of HBPC enrollees and the roles of HBPC mental health providers, HBPC teams should integrate both psychologists and consulting psychiatrists.

The Prevalence of Burnout Among Nursing Home Physicians: An International Perspective.

Physician burnout is a critical factor influencing the quality of care delivered in various healthcare settings. Although the prevalence and consequences of burnout have been well documented for physicians in various jurisdictions, no studies to date have reported on burnout in the postacute and long-term care setting. In this exploratory study, we sought to quantify the prevalence of burnout among 3 cohorts of physicians, each practicing in nursing homes in the United States (US), Canada, or The Netherlands. International comparisons were solicited to highlight cultural and health system factors potentially impacting burnout levels. Using standard survey techniques, a total of 721 physicians were solicited to participate (Canada 393; US 110; The Netherlands 218). Physicians agreeing to participate were asked to complete the "Maslach Burnout Inventory" using the Survey Monkey platform. A total of 118 surveys were completed from The Netherlands, 59 from Canada, and 65 from the US for response rates of 54%, 15%, and 59%, respectively. While US physicians demonstrated more negative scores in the emotional exhaustion subscale compared with their counterparts in Canada and The Netherlands, there were no meaningful differences on the depersonalization and personal accomplishments subscales. Factors explaining these differences are explored as well as approaches to future research on physician burnout in postacute and long-term care.

Prevalence of Dementia in a Geriatric Palliative Care Unit.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of dementia in a palliative care unit (PCU) and to determine whether there is a difference between length of stay (LOS) and Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) score in individuals admitted with a primary diagnosis of dementia compared to individuals admitted with other noncancer and cancer diagnoses. DESIGN: Descriptive retrospective chart review. SETTING: Geriatric PCU in an academic community geriatric hospital. PARTICIPANTS: All individuals admitted to the Baycrest Health Sciences PCU from January 1, 2014, to September 1, 2016. MEASUREMENTS: Individuals with an admission diagnosis of cancer, noncancer, and dementia and their corresponding PPS scores were identified. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: A total of 780 patients were admitted to the PCU during the study period: 32 (4.1%) individuals had advanced dementia, 121 (15.5%) had a noncancer diagnosis, and 627 (80.4%) had cancer as the primary reason for admission. In the cancer and noncancer groups, 113 patients had a comorbid dementia diagnosis. The mean admission PPS score in patients with cancer was 36%, noncancer was 32.6%, and dementia was 23.8% ( P < .001). Mean LOS in patients with cancer was 32 days, noncancer patients was 34.3 days, and patients with advanced dementia was 33.3 days ( P = .90). CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with an admission diagnosis of advanced dementia had a lower mean PPS score than individuals admitted with other noncancer and cancer diagnoses. There was no difference in the mean LOS between the 3 groups. Individuals with an admission diagnosis of advanced dementia should not be refused admission because of fear of outliving their prognosis.

A Survey of Knowledge and Attitudes of Nurses About Pain Management in End-Stage Liver Disease in a Geriatric Palliative Care Unit.

BACKGROUND: Palliative care is often initiated late for patients with end stage liver disease (ESLD) with pain being a common morbidity that is under-treated throughout the disease trajectory. When admitted to a palliative care unit (PCU), nurses play a pivotal role and must be highly informed to ensure effective pain management. The aim of this study is to determine the baseline level of knowledge and attitudes of PCU nurses regarding pain management in patients with ESLD. METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional self-administered survey design was used for this study. The sample comprised 35 PCU nurses working at a continuing chronic care facility in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Data on the knowledge and attitudes of the nurses regarding pain management in patients with ESLD, was obtained using a modified version of the "Nurses Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain" (NKASRP) tool. RESULTS: Thirty-one PCU nurses were included for the analysis, giving a response rate of 89%. The mean total percentage score for the nurses on the modified version of the NKASRP was 72%. Only 26% of the nurse participants obtained a passing score of 80% or greater. There were no significant differences in mean total scores by age, gender, years of nursing experience or education level. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study provide important information about the inadequate knowledge and attitude in nurses regarding pain management for patients with ESLD. It is suggested that targeted educational programs and quality improvement initiatives in pain management for patients with ESLD could improve knowledge and attitudes for PCU nurses.

Primary Thromboprophylaxis in Individuals without Cancer Admitted to a Geriatric Palliative Care Unit.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of individuals with advanced noncancer disease is increasing on palliative care units (PCUs), but there are no current guidelines to direct venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis decisions in these individuals. The aim of this study was to compare primary VTE prophylaxis in elderly adults with advanced noncancer diagnoses with that of those with advanced cancer on a dedicated geriatric PCU. DESIGN: Single-center retrospective chart review. SETTING: Baycrest Health Sciences PCU, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. PARTICIPANTS: All 317 individuals admitted to and discharged in 2015 were included in the initial analysis. RESULTS: Three hundred sixteen individuals were included in the final analysis, 56 (17.7%) of whom had a noncancer diagnosis. VTE prophylaxis was administered in 31.8% of participants with cancer and 26.8% of those without (P = .28). Two hundred eleven (66.6%) participants were admitted from the hospital, and 96 (30.3%) were admitted from home. Participants admitted from the hospital were more likely to receive VTE prophylaxis (39.8% vs 13.7%; P < .05). Mean admission PPS score was 31.4 for participants without cancer and 36.0 for those with cancer (P < .05). Length of stay was shorter for participants with a PPS score less than 30 (18.6 vs 33.6 days; P < .05). The rate of VTE prophylaxis in participants who were bedbound was similar to that in those who were ambulatory (29.8% vs 32.2%; P = .36). CONCLUSION: VTE prophylaxis rates were similar in participants with and without cancer on a geriatric PCU. The rate was not significantly less for nonambulatory participants. Further research would help to better guide VTE prophylaxis decisions and minimize suffering at the end of life.

National Structural Survey of Veterans Affairs Home-Based Primary Care Programs.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the current structural and practice characteristics of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) program. DESIGN: We designed a national survey and surveyed HBPC program directors on-line using REDCap. PARTICIPANTS: We received 236 surveys from 394 identified HBPC sites (60% response rate). MEASUREMENTS: HBPC site characteristics were quantified using closed-ended formats. RESULTS: HBPC program directors were most often registered nurses, and HBPC programs primarily served veterans with complex chronic illnesses that were at high risk of hospitalization and nursing home care. Primary care was delivered using interdisciplinary teams, with nurses, social workers, and registered dietitians as team members in more than 90% of the sites. Most often, nurse practitioners were the principal primary care providers (PCPs), typically working with nurse case managers. Nearly 60% of the sites reported dual PCPs involving VA and community-based physicians. Nearly all sites provided access to a core set of comprehensive services and programs (e.g., case management, supportive home health care). At the same time, there were variations according to site (e.g., size, location (urban, rural), use of non-VA hospitals, primary care models used). CONCLUSION: HBPC sites reflected the rationale and mission of HBPC by focusing on complex chronic illness of home-based veterans and providing comprehensive primary care using interdisciplinary teams. Our next series of studies will examine how HBPC site structural characteristics and care models are related to the processes and outcomes of care to determine whether there are best practice standards that define an optimal HBPC structure and care model or whether multiple approaches to HBPC better serve the needs of veterans.

Telementoring Primary Care Clinicians to Improve Geriatric Mental Health Care.

Health care delivery and payment systems are moving rapidly toward value-based care. To be successful in this new environment, providers must consistently deliver high-quality, evidence-based, and coordinated care to patients. This study assesses whether Project ECHO® (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) GEMH (geriatric mental health)-a remote learning and mentoring program-is an effective strategy to address geriatric mental health challenges in rural and underserved communities. Thirty-three teleECHO clinic sessions connecting a team of specialists to 54 primary care and case management spoke sites (approximately 154 participants) were conducted in 10 New York counties from late 2014 to early 2016. The curriculum consisted of case presentations and didactic lessons on best practices related to geriatric mental health care. Twenty-six interviews with program participants were conducted to explore changes in geriatric mental health care knowledge and treatment practices. Health insurance claims data were analyzed to assess changes in health care utilization and costs before and after program implementation. Findings from interviews suggest that the program led to improvements in clinician geriatric mental health care knowledge and treatment practices. Claims data analysis suggests that emergency room costs decreased for patients with mental health diagnoses. Patients without a mental health diagnosis had more outpatient visits and higher prescription and outpatient costs. Telementoring programs such as Project ECHO GEMH may effectively build the capacity of frontline clinicians to deliver high-quality, evidence-based care to older adults with mental health conditions and may contribute to the transformation of health care delivery systems from volume to value.