Pharmacist Integration into Transitions of Care at a Community Hospital： Skilled Nursing Facility Discharges

In 2012-2013, CMH （Community Memorial Hospital） had a 10.5% 30-day readmission rate from SNFs （skilled nursing facilities）. The focus of the Connections of Care Coalition was to review the medication reconciliation process and to involve pharmacists in the transition of patients to SNFs. The objective of the project was to work as an interdisciplinary team to improve the communication during transitions of care from our hospital to local SNFs by identifying key issues and initiating pharmacy practice change. This quality improvement project had a pre-post study design. Patients older than 18 years of age discharged to SNFs and/or readmitted from SNFs within 30 days were included. Baseline data was collected, specific pharmacist interventions were identified, educated on and implemented, and post-implementation data was collected. The number of interventions made and documented by pharmacists for patients being discharged from CMH to local SNFs did not significantly change during this quality improvement study. Clinically significant interventions were made on high risk medications, such as warfarin. Finally, a newly redesigned SNF workflow was implemented to include pharmacy, nursing, social work/case management to improve patient care and safety for discharges to SNFs.

Improvement in Patient Mobility Following Short-Term Rehabilitation in Skilled Nursing Facilities

Background: Mobility in older adults can be impaired after acute illness or hospitalization, and the level of severity can be used as a predictor of one’s ability to return to independent living. Patients are often referred to skilled nursing facilities in hopes of improving their mobility. We wanted to prove that rehabilitative services at Skilled Nursing Facilities improve overall outcomes. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from 4612 patients admitted for short-term rehabilitation in a large nursing home chain in California. Our aim was to determine whether patients’ mobility scores, as measured by rehabilitative staff, significantly improved by time of discharge compared to their scores at admission. Mobility scores were rated from 1 to 6, with 1 being the most dependent on aid and 6 being the most independent, over a variety of tasks at admission and compared to scores at discharge. Pearson’s correlations were performed to determine if there were significant relationships in the data: the Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to describe the relationships between patient admission to a skilled nursing facility and medical improvement upon discharge. Results: The study demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in patients’ mobility scores upon discharge, with Medicare insured patients showing on average 57% improvement and Managed Care insured patients showing on average 59% improvement. Additionally, admission scores appeared to be predictive of the patient’s outcome at discharge. Conclusions: The values and consistency of improvement support the use of acute rehabilitative services in skilled nursing facilities. An equation can be formulated that evaluates patients’ estimated mobility statuses upon discharge from facilities based on their conditions on their arrivals. With this, new interventions can be studied and compared to the current standard of care by using these measurements. They can determine if further improvements can be made to increase patient outcomes.

Improvement of Activities of Daily Living (ADL) for Patients Treated in Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs)

Background: Self-care tasks or activities of daily living (ADL)’s performance are often disrupted after an older adult sustains an injury or illness, which can be a determining factor for discharge placement after hospitalization, or it can determine the level of assistance required after discharge from a skilled nursing facility (SNF). We believe that comprehensive rehabilitation can improve a patient’s overall functioning during their short term stay in SNFs. The purpose of this study is to determine if an individual’s level of independence improved after admission to a skilled nursing facility and procurement of rehabilitation services. Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed 4612 nursing home patients in California who underwent rehabilitative services at skilled nursing facilities to determine how the patients responded to their environments, therapy interventions, and any other additional supportive measures. The records of patients who were admitted for short-term rehabilitation were reviewed in a blinded fashion, looking specifically at Section GG of the Minimum Data Set (MDS). Self-Care Section GG scores recorded by rehabilitative staff provide objective data and measure patients’ levels of assistance that were required. Each activity is scored from 1, being completely dependent, to 6, being entirely independent, with varying levels of assistance with scores in between. The admission scores versus the discharge scores can be compared to determine if a patient improved their level of functioning upon discharge. Results: Utilizing the Pearson’s correlation coefficient, a strong correlation of improvement in ADL performance on Section GG between the admission and discharge scores was identified, implying significant improvement in functional independence upon discharge. The average percent improvement for Managed Care patients was ~35.4% and ~39.4% for Medicare patients. Conclusions: The results support the benefits of rehabilitation services in skilled nursing facilities, and the data suggests that admission scores can be used as a predictive tool for functional outcomes.

Health personnel's experience with resident-centered care in nursing homes in Korea: A qualitative study

Objectives: Changing the culture in nursing homes in South Korea comes with challenges,and the key issues of resident-centered care have been described.This study aims to describe health personnel's experience in providing resident-centered care in nursing homes.Methods: Qualitative data were collected through individual and focus group interviews consisting of registered nurses (n =4),certified nurse assistants (n =2),and long-term caregivers (n =12) working at nursing homes in South Korea.The participants (n-18) completed the interviews from May to June 2018,and all interviews were recorded,transcribed,and analyzed by employing the content analysis method.Results: Five main categories are conceptualized: (1) residents' participation in decision making,(2) the sharing of the history and story of residents,(3) the recognition of facility-or task-based attitudes,(4) the guarantee of private time and space for residents,and (5) the need for standardized guidelines.Conclusions: Results corroborate that health personnel regard resident-centered care as a desirable nursing paradigm.However,facility-or task-centered care is the most effective in hectic situations.A standardized protocol on the application of resident-centered care based on the facility-tailored specification is unavailable.Therefore,health personnel's perception and practice of resident-centered care can differ.Efficient nursing intervention programs should be developed after clarifying facility culture.

Dignity and its related factors among older adults in long-term care facilities:A cross-sectional study

Objectives:This study aimed to explore the dignity and related factors among older adults in long-term care facilities.Methods:Cross-sectional data were obtained from a sample of 253 Chinese older adults dwelling in long-term care facilities.Dignity among older adults was measured using the Dignity Scale,and its potential correlates were explored using multiple linear regressions.Results:Results showed that the total score of the Dignity Scale is 151.95±11.75.From high to low,the different factors of dignity among older adults in long-term care facilities were as follows:caring factors(4.83±0.33),social factors(4.73±0.41),psychological factors(4.66±0.71),value factors(4.56±0.53),autonomous factors(4.50±0.57),and physical factors(4.38±0.55).A higher score of the Dignity Scale was associated with higher economic status,fewer chronic diseases,less medication,better daily living ability and long-time lived in cities.Conclusion:Older adults with low economic status,more chronic diseases,and poor daily living ability,taking more medications,or the previous residence in rural areas seem to be most at low-level dignity in long-term care facilities and thus require more attention than their peers.