Virginia Health Services’ Post

New research from Mass General Brigham affirms the success of hospital-at-home programs established under the CMS waiver. The study reveals low mortality rates, low skilled nursing facility use, and low readmission rates at one-month post-discharge. Embracing diversity, outcomes are consistent across marginalized populations, proving home hospital care's potential to reach a diverse group of patients. Xtelligent Healthcare shares more: https://bit.ly/3ScJwWx #hospitalathome #homehealthcare #CMS

Ever noticed the calming presence of the sky above? Well, patients in Ward 4W at North Canberra Hospital are experiencing just that, thanks to the innovative Sky Panels installed on the ceiling, funded by the incredible Canberra Hospital Foundation! Ward 4W is an acute medical ward that treats patients with dementia and delirium. We caught up with Taila, one of our registered nurses, to get the inside scoop on how these panels came to be and their impact on patients and staff. Here's what Taila had to say: ‘Caroline, our champion for safewards and improving our patient care and environment was the main driver for it, based on research showing that being outdoors helps orientate and calm people with dementia.’ ‘Patients and families have noticed a difference! It feels calmer, almost like being outside. The panels help with soothing strategies and redirection. Patients don't feel trapped; they can see the open sky when going outside might not be possible, which is therapeutic.’ ‘The timer on the panels helps maintain day-night cycles, crucial for patient well-being. And it also aligns with our goal of using communication rather than medications to ensure patient safety. It's part of our broader framework for safe and therapeutic care.’ ‘We've had patients and visitors complimenting us on how nice it looks. It's a small touch that makes a big difference.’ ‘We're thinking long-term. These panels align with best practice which shows the benefits of familiar environments for dementia patients, and potentially reducing the need for medications in the future.’ The sky's the limit when it comes to enhancing the healing journey in Ward 4W. #TeamCHS #SkyPanels #TherapeuticCare

Shifting regulations continue to change the way hospitals approach care delivery, accessibility and post discharge planning. Discover 3 ways hospitals can expect to be impacted following CMS’ SNF staffing mandate (hint it impacts more than just SNFs): http://ms.spr.ly/6043mgN1U

The latest addition to the evidence base on virtual wards or hospital at home is this very large 5,000+ person study from Boston. The patients were mostly older with 42% over 80 and medically complex. The home cohort had low mortality, low readmission rates and low need to escalate. The research was undertaken by Mass General Brigham and the researchers’ letter in the Annuls summarising their results starts with this stark comparison. “Background: Hospitalization is the standard of care for acute illness, but hospital care is often expensive, unsafe, and uncomfortable (1). Acute hospital care at home (AHCaH) provides hospital-level care in patients’ homes as a substitute for brick-and-mortar care. Prior research has shown that compared with traditional inpatient hospital care, patients cared for in AHCaH have improved experiences and physical activity levels, with lower rates of mortality, readmission, and discharge to skilled-nursing facilities (2, 3). However, there are few data describing the experience of AHCaH at the national level.” #VirtualWards #HospitalAtHome #TheresNoPlaceLikeHome Digital Care

When working on this piece, I dived into some of the reasons contributing to the closing down of obstetrics departments in China. Apart from the declining birth rate, the department itself has a high operation cost and low income. Moreover, in order for hospitals to score high on their evaluations, CMI (case-mix index) and complex surgeries are key indicators - both of which run counter to an obstetric department's fundamental principle of ensuring safe deliveries and providing suitable risk preventative measures. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gDihj5ua

The hospital-at-home model is gaining traction as a viable alternative to traditional care settings. Recent studies have shown that this model leads to lower mortality rates, decreased usage of skilled nursing facilities, and less need for escalation in patient care. Read more about this innovative approach to healthcare here: https://bitly.ws/39RM4

The hospital-at-home model is gaining traction as a viable alternative to traditional care settings. Recent studies have shown that this model leads to lower mortality rates, decreased usage of skilled nursing facilities, and less need for escalation in patient care. Read more about this innovative approach to healthcare here: https://bitly.ws/39RM4

Post-hospitalization home health care plays a crucial role in supporting patients during their recovery process. Here are some key points: Reducing Readmissions: Home health care visits following hospitalization can reduce the risk of readmission, especially for certain conditions like sepsis and heart failure. Patient Outcomes: A study comparing home health care vs. skilled nursing facilities found that discharging patients to home with home health care was associated with a higher 30-day readmission rate but significantly lower Medicare payments for post-acute care. There were no significant differences in mortality rates or improved functional status. Safety and Continuity: When evidence-based practices are followed, home-based care provides effective, safe, and appropriate continuation of medical services beyond traditional hospital care3. It ensures personalized attention and continuity of care. Restoring Independence: In the journey of recuperation, in-home care is pivotal. It tailors care plans, prevents setbacks, and restores independence for patients post-hospitalization. If you have any specific questions or need further information, feel free to ask!

In a new I-CARE4OLD EU Project study, researchers from Hebrew SeniorLife examined #risk of #death in a cohort of nursing home residents in the US and Canada, resulting in the development of the DeathRisk-NursingHome scale, an effective #prediction model to identify residents at risk of death within the first 12 months after admission to the nursing home. The new tool is a refinement of the well-established interRAI Global CHESS-scale (Changes in Health, Endstage Disease, Signs and Symptoms) and may be helpful in patient care planning, resource allocation, and excess death monitoring. #riskprediction #olderadults #long-term care

"...The Hospital-at-Home model continues to show more signs of low rates of mortality, decreased usage of skilled nursing facilities and less need for escalation in patient care compared to traditional care settings. 1st Takeaway: The care that’s been delivered nationally is to very complex patients who are acutely ill. For the first time, we’re seeing national data that’s suggesting that these patients are highly complex and they’re acutely ill. In a study published in JAMA, only 7.2% of over 11,000 patients that were being treated in the home were transferred to the hospital. Mass Brigham’s study showed even more encouraging results. 42.5% had heart failure, 43.3% had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 22.1% had cancer and 16.1% had dementia. 2nd Takeaway: in digging through the study’s findings was the “substantial equity” given and observed in the HAH model. Outcomes remained consistent across all demographic groups, including Black, Latino, and other race and ethnicity demographics, as well as dual-eligible and disability status.... leveling the playing field and, if not, serve some of those patients who are traditionally disadvantaged, even better than the hospital does potentially,” #homehealth #hospitalathome #healthcare #nursing