Second-generation deinstitutionalization, II: The impact of Brewster v. Dukakis on correlates of community and hospital utilization.

On the basis of the principle that patients have the right to be treated in the least restrictive setting appropriate to their needs, all 368 patients at Northampton State Hospital (Massachusetts) were discharged over a 10-year period. Three-quarters were discharged to community settings. Half of the patients were never rehospitalized, but many others continued to display patterns of recidivism. On the assumption that socially dysfunctional behavior would improve after discharge, the funded community system emphasized assessments, residential placements, and crisis intervention and deemphasized treatment. The findings raise many questions about the efficacy and wisdom of attempting to serve an entire state hospital population in the community.

Second-generation deinstitutionalization, I: The impact of Brewster v. Dukakis on state hospital case mix.

A 1978 consent decree affecting one region of Massachusetts mandated a drastic reduction of census at its state hospital, where considerable deinstitutionalization had already occurred over the prior two decades. The transfer of patients from hospital to community was to be accomplished through the unprecedented expansion of community resources. This second-generation deinstitutionalization effort achieved substantial census reduction but less than was envisioned. It was most effective in discharging geriatric and mentally retarded patients but far less effective with longterm and new chronic patients, many of whom continue to require repeated hospitalizations despite the availability of a comprehensive array of community-based services.

Relationships between bladder inflammation and other clinical features in interstitial cystitis.

OBJECTIVES: Interstitial cystitis (IC) has been considered possibly to represent more than one disease process. If so, patients would be expected to form distinct subgroups. The degree of mononuclear inflammation on bladder biopsy can be objectively quantified and might be a useful parameter for subgroup division. The hypothesis of this study was that patients with mild versus severe inflammation would differ with regard to other clinical features of IC. METHODS: Sixteen patients who met the original National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases criteria for IC underwent cystoscopy with bladder distention and biopsy. The degree of mononuclear inflammation on bladder biopsy was classified as mild, with less than 100 mononuclear cells/high power field (HPF), or severe (100 or more mononuclear cells/HPF or lymphoid aggregates). Associations were sought between degree of inflammation and other subjective and objective clinical features. RESULTS: Five patients had severe inflammation and 11 had mild inflammation. The major finding was that the patients with severe inflammation experienced better symptom relief after cystoscopy with bladder distention under anesthesia. This difference was highly significant (Fisher's exact test, p = 0.0014). For the other clinical features studied, these two groups did not differ significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Two distinct IC patient groups were identified by bladder biopsy findings. These two groups had significantly different treatment responses. If this difference is confirmed with a larger number of patients, it would suggest that these two patient groups may have different underlying disease processes.

The Interstitial Cystitis Data Base Study: concepts and preliminary baseline descriptive statistics.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the design, patient population, and data and specimen collection aspects of the interstitial Cystitis Data Base (ICDB) Study and to provide preliminary descriptive statistics and inferential results from an interim analysis. METHODS: All 424 study participants successfully enrolled in the ICDB Study prior to December 31, 1995, were selected for an interim analysis and were classified into 1 of 3 symptom severity subgroups. Statistical tests for associations among these symptom severity subgroups and a broad range of baseline characteristics were conducted using Mantal-Haenszel procedures to adjust for variation among clinical centers. RESULTS: ICDB Study patients are predominantly female (91.5%), white (91.0%), with an average age at enrollment of 44.3 years. Nearly 45% of these patients underwent a cystoscopy at baseline screening, among whom there was an overall prevalence of 10.5% for Hunner's patch and 90% for glomerulations. Urodynamic evaluation for the entire 424 patients demonstrated that volumes at first sensation and at maximal capacity were inversely associated with symptom severity subgroups. A broad range of symptoms were analyzed, indicating that nearly 40% of patients reported urinating 15 times or more during awake hours, and more than 20% reported voiding at least 4 times per night. Almost half (47.9%) reported constant urgency and 23.6% reported having severe pain. Patients in the severe symptom subgroup reported greater limitations in selected quality-of-life indicators than those with less severe symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This interim analysis of the ICDB Study data was compared to previous epidemiologic studies of IC and provides an essential foundation for further analytic investigations of baseline associations and longitudinal trends.

Associations among urodynamic findings and symptoms in women enrolled in the Interstitial Cystitis Data Base (ICDB) Study.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to correlate the cystometric findings with the presenting symptoms of the 388 women enrolled in the NIH/NIDDK-funded interstitial Cystitis Data Base (ICDB) Study as of December 31, 1995. METHODS: All patients underwent a complete history and physical and completed standardized questionnaires to assess voiding symptoms and quality of life (QOL). A 3-day voiding log was also obtained, followed by a baseline urodynamic exam. All results are expressed as mean values +/- 1 standard deviation, and all reported correlations were significant. RESULTS: A correlation was seen between reported daytime, nighttime, and 24-hour frequency, and both volume at first sensation to void (VFSV) and maximal cystometric capacity (VMCC). Patients with constant severe urgency had smaller VFSV, 63 +/- 59 mL versus 108 +/- 90 mL, and lower VMCC, 163 +/- 102 mL versus 288 +/- 135 mL, than patients without the complaint. A negative trend was seen for both VFSV and VMCC versus the global severity. An inverse trend was seen between minimal and maximal pain scores over the 4 weeks before the exam and VMCC. (No correlation existed between current pain noted during baseline screening visits and VFSV or VMCC). No urodynamics correlates were seen with global measures of body pain and global health. Uninhibited detrusor contractions (UDCs) were seen in 56 of 384 patients (14.6%). A positive correlation was seen between urgency symptoms and the presence of UDCs. Correlations between the VFSV and VMCC were made with both the average voided volume (AVV) and the average maximal voided volume (AMVV) as determined by a 3-day voiding log. Significant positive correlations were seen with each pair-wise comparison (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: These findings confirm that subjective measurements of symptoms associated with interstitial cystitis can be confirmed objectively with urodynamic studies.

Associations among cystoscopic findings and symptoms and physical examination findings in women enrolled in the Interstitial Cystitis Data Base (ICDB) Study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine if specific symptoms or physical findings were associated with findings on cystoscopic examination under anesthesia in patients participating in the Interstitial Cystitis Data Base (ICDB) Study. METHODS: Subjects entering the ICDB Study completed symptom questionnaires and underwent physical examinations. Additionally, at the discretion of study investigators, 150 women underwent cystoscopy under anesthesia following a specific protocol of bladder distension at 70 to 80 cm irrigating fluid height and reinspection after capacity was reached and the irrigant drained. RESULTS: Statistically significant (p < 0.01) associations between bodily pain and urinary urgency with the presence of a Hunner's patch, and urinary frequency and urgency with a reduced bladder capacity under anesthesia were seen. Neither the findings of bloody irrigating fluid nor glomerulations were strongly associated with any symptom, and except for an association of urethral tenderness with Hunner's patch, no physical examination finding was associated with any cystoscopic findings. CONCLUSIONS: The strong associations of Hunner's patch and reduced bladder capacity under anesthesia with severe pain and urinary urgency, and urgency and frequency, respectively, indicate not only the importance of these findings in diagnosing interstitial cystitis, but also their potential utility in subclassifying this disease.

Associations among cystoscopic and urodynamic findings for women enrolled in the Interstitial Cystitis Data Base (ICDB) Study.

OBJECTIVES: Interstitial cystitis is a symptom complex characterized by pelvic pain, urinary urgency, urinary frequency, and nocturia. Patients with these symptoms, at the 5 clinical centers participating in the National Interstitial Cystitis Data Base (ICDB) Study, have been evaluated with history and physical exams, questionnaires, and urodynamic studies. METHODS: Of the 388 female subjects entered in the study as of December 31, 1995, 150 women have undergone cystoscopy with hydrodistension. The data from the endoscopic procedures and the urodynamic studies were analyzed. The associations among cystoscopic and urodynamic findings were reviewed. RESULTS: Patient demographics of this subgroup show a predominance of Caucasians 139/150 (92.7%), with the average age being 43 (+/-13.2) years. Of the total, 17 patients (11.3%) had a Hunner's patch (HP). The prevalence by center varied from a low of 2/38 (5.3%) to a high of 3/9 (33.3%). Bloody effluent following hydrodistension was present in 113/150 (75.3%). Glomerulations appeared in varying degrees (mild, moderate, severe) in 91.3% of the 150 patients. There was a strong inverse relationship (P < 0.001) between bladder capacity under anesthesia and the presence of a HP (mean of 845 cc with HP absent versus a mean of 531 cc when present). The incidence of HP varied from 67.6% among women with a bladder capacity at hydrodistension of < 400 cc to 3.8% for those with a bladder capacity of at least 800 cc. The presence and increasing severity of glomerulations was positively associated (P < 0.003) with the presence of HP, ranging from 0/13 (0%) when glomerulations were not present to 6/31 (19.4%) when glomerulations were graded as severe. Of the patients with HP, 17/17 (100%) had glomerulations after hydrodistension. HP is more closely associated with the moderate to severe range of glomerulations (P < 0.01). Nearly half of the patients with HP or 8/17 (47.1%) had "moderate" glomerulations, while 6/17 (35.3%) had "severe" glomerulations. The volume at first sensation to void on urodynamics (mean 87 cc without HP versus 34.7 cc with HP) was highly inversely associated (P = 0.002) with the presence of HP, but not with any of the other cystoscopic findings. Of patients with HP, 94% had a volume at first sensation to void of < or = 50 cc where only 36% of patients without HP had a volume at first sensation to void of < or = 50 cc. The volume at maximum capacity on urodynamics was positively associated with the volume at hydrodistension (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, patients with HP had lower bladder capacities, lower volumes at first sensation to void, and more severe glomerulations. Thus, the presence of HP would imply a more severe case of interstitial cystitis. Logically, a higher bladder capacity on cystometrogram is associated with a higher volume at the time of hydrodistension, and bloody effluent is associated with more severe glomerulations.

Mortality of young physicians in the United States, 1980-1988.

BACKGROUND: The obituary section of most issues of JAMA announces the death of at least one physician under the age of 40 years. The premature death of a physician is a significant loss to society. METHOD: The authors ascertained the mortality of physicians ages 25 to 39 years occurring from January 1, 1980, through December 31, 1988, from obituary listings in JAMA, and calculated mortality rates by gender and age. Death certificates were sought for all decedents listed as residing in California, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. Cause of death was investigated for this subset. RESULTS: There were 835 young-physician fatalities reported in JAMA during the study period, (an average of 93 deaths per year). The mortality rate among female doctors was 26/100,000; among male doctors it was 40/100,000. The mortality rate of young doctors was less than half that of the general population of white persons of the same age. Of the 122 deaths for which a death certificate was located, 45 (37%) were due to disease, 32 were suicides (26%), 31 were unintentional injuries (25%), and five (4%) were homicides. CONCLUSION: Young physicians enjoy a considerable mortality advantage over non-physicians of similar age. If the study findings in the death certificate sample are generalizable, at least half of the deaths of young physicians are theoretically preventable (suicides, homicides, and unintentional injuries). Residency program directors should consider how their training programs may affect the likelihood of a young physician's dying from a preventable cause.

Privatized Medicaid managed care in Massachusetts: disposition in child and adolescent mental health emergencies.

Data from child and adolescent emergency mental health screening episodes prior and subsequent to privatized Medicaid managed care in Massachusetts are used to investigate the relationship between payer source and disposition and to compare the match between clinical need and disposition level of care. Having Medicaid as the payer in the post-Medicaid managed care period decreased the odds of hospitalization by nearly 60%. None of the clinical need variables that contributed to hospitalization for Medicaid episodes in the pre-Medicaid managed care period were significant in the post-Medicaid managed care period. Multiple forces shaping professional standards, decision making, and quality of care are described. Public sector agencies must lay the groundwork for comprehensive evaluation prior to the implementation of privatized Medicaid managed care initiatives.

Insurance status and length of stay for involuntarily hospitalized patients.

General and private psychiatric hospitals are becoming increasingly common as sites for involuntary hospitalization. Unlike the public facilities that these settings are supplanting, these hospitals must pay strict attention to issues associated with reimbursement, insurance status, and managed care. This article examines the effects of insurance status on length of stay for involuntarily hospitalized patients in general and private hospitals in Massachusetts. Using a two-stage sampling procedure, data on episodes of involuntary hospitalization were gathered and assessed using multiple regression. The primary effect was found between patients with Medicare, who had the longest stays, and individuals who were uninsured, who had the shortest. The data raise concerns that warrant closer scrutiny on the part of administrators and clinicians.

Should all women with cervical atypia be referred for colposcopy: a HARNET study. Harrisburgh Area Research Network.

BACKGROUND: Clinicians who manage women with Papanicolaou (Pap) smears showing atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) may miss clinically significant cervical disease by repeating the cytology alone. We evaluated the ability of the human papillomavirus (HPV) screen and the naked-eye examination after a cervical acetic acid wash to enhance the follow-up Pap smear in predicting an abnormal colposcopic biopsy. METHODS: Pap smears were performed on all women (N = 7458) attending six family practice offices for a health maintenance examination from August 1989 through February 1991. Consenting subjects with ASCUS underwent repeat cytological testing, an HPV screen, and a cervical acetic acid wash examination immediately before colposcopy after a 4- to 6-month waiting period. RESULTS: Of the 122 consenting women identified with ASCUS, 67 (55%) demonstrated abnormalities on biopsy, including 26 with condyloma, 26 with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia I (CIN I), and 15 with CIN II to III. The false-negative rate, 58%, of the follow-up Pap smear alone for detecting these cases of condyloma and CIN was significantly decreased (false-negative rate, 27%) with the use of the cervical acetic acid wash as an adjunctive test. There was no additional reduction in the false-negative rate with the use of the HPV screen. Of the 15 subjects with high-grade cervical lesions (CIN II to III), 14 had either an abnormal follow-up Pap smear or an abnormal cervical acetic acid wash examination. CONCLUSIONS: Among women with cervical atypia, a single follow-up Pap smear alone failed to detect one third of the cases of high-grade disease. Ninety-three percent of these cases were detected, however, with a follow-up Pap smear and an acetic acid wash. Our one subject with a high-grade lesion missed with this combination of tests had an unsatisfactory Pap smear. Use of both tests together may reliably guide clinical decisions regarding the management of cervical atypia.

The geriatric resource nurse model of care: a vision for the future.

The geriatric resource nurse model of care is an innovative and effective method of integrating high quality, evidence-based geriatric nursing care into a clinical practice setting. The model creates expert bedside clinicians who recognize the vulnerability of older adults, who proactively educate and serve as consultants for peers, and who role model best practice geriatric nursing. This article describes the history and key features of this nursing model of care delivery with examples of how it was successfully implemented in a variety of hospitals around the country.

Community mental health services and the prevalence of severe mental illness in local jails: are they related?

The excessive prevalence of severe mental illness noted in correctional settings has sometimes been attributed to the inadequacy of community based mental health services. This study examines the prevalence of severe mental illness in two jails situated within catchment areas featuring markedly different levels of community mental health services. We use these settings to test the hypothesis that greater levels of services in a community are associated with lower prevalence of severe mental illness in the community's jail. An epidemiologic approach, using standardized field instruments, was used to estimate the prevalence of major mental illness in detainees arriving at the two sites over a 6-month period. The hypothesis that greater levels of mental health resources in a community would be associated with lower prevalence of mental illness in the community's jail was not supported. These findings suggest that community-based mental health services by themselves do not affect the prevalence of mental illness in jail.

Comparison of toxinotyping and PCR ribotyping of Clostridium difficile strains and description of novel toxinotypes.

Toxinotyping and PCR ribotyping are two methods that have been used to type Clostridium difficile isolates. Toxinotyping is based on PCR-RFLP analysis of a 19 kb region encompassing the C. difficile pathogenicity locus. PCR ribotyping is based on comparison of patterns of PCR products of the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region. Representative strains (101) from a C. difficile PCR ribotype library and 22 strains from previously described toxinotypes were analysed to compare ribotyping with toxinotyping. Within this panel of strains all 11 toxinotypes (0-X) described previously and an additional 5 novel toxinotypes (XI-XV) were observed. PCR ribotyping and toxinotyping correlated well and usually all strains within a given ribotype had similar changes in toxin genes. The new toxinotype XI comprises strains that did not express toxins TcdA or TcdB at detectable levels, but contained part of the tcdA gene. Strains of toxinotype XII exhibit changes only in the 5' end of the tcdB gene. Toxinotype XIV is composed of strains that have a large insertion at the beginning of the tcdA gene. A total of 25 of the 89 tested PCR ribotypes of C. difficile contained variant strains. It was estimated that they represent 7.7% of the total number of strains in the Anaerobe Reference Unit collection.