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BACKGROUND: Ambulatory access to academic medical centers (AMCs) for patients insured with Medi-Cal (i.e., Medicaid in California) is understudied, particularly among the 85% of beneficiaries enrolled in managed care plans. As more AMCs develop partnerships with these plans, data on patient experiences of access to care and quality are needed to guide patient-centered improvements in care delivery. METHODS: The authors conducted semi-structured, qualitative interviews with Medi-Cal-insured patients with initial visits at a large, urban AMC during 2022. Participant recruitment was informed by a database of ambulatory Medi-Cal encounters. The interview guide covered Medi-Cal enrollment, scheduling, and visit experience. Interviews were transcribed and inductively coded, then organized into themes across four domains: access, affordability, patient-provider interactions, and continuity. RESULTS: Twenty participant interviews were completed (55% female, 85% English speaking, 80% self-identified minority or other race, and 30% Hispanic or Latino) with primary and/or specialty care visits. Within the access domain, participants reported delays with Medi-Cal enrollment and access to specialist care or testing, though appointment scheduling was reported to be easy. Affordability concerns included out-of-pocket medical and parking costs, and missed income when patients or families skipped work to facilitate care coordination. Participants considered clear, bilateral communication with providers fundamental to positive patient-provider interactions. Some participants perceived discrimination by providers based on their insurance status. Participants valued continuity, but experienced frustration arising from frequent and unexpected health plan changes that disrupted care with their established AMC providers. CONCLUSIONS: The missions of AMCs typically focus on clinical care, education, research, and equity. However, reports from Medi-Cal insured patients receiving care at AMCs highlight their stress and confusion related to inconsistent provider access, uncompensated costs, variability in perceptions of quality, and fragmented care. Recommendations based upon patient-reported concerns suggest opportunities for AMC health system-level improvements that are compatible with AMC missions.

BACKGROUND: The fast-growing migrant population in Japan and globally poses challenges in mental healthcare, yet research addressing migrants mental health treatment engagement remains limited. OBJECTIVE: This study examined language proficiency, demographic and clinical characteristics as predictors of early treatment discontinuation among migrants. METHODS: Electronic health record data from 196 adult migrants, identified from 14 511 patients who received mental health outpatient treatment during 2016 and 2019 at three central hospitals in the Tokyo-Yokohama metropolitan region of Japan, were used. We conducted multivariable regression models to identify predictors of early discontinuation within 3 months. FINDINGS: The study cohort (65% women, age range: 18-90 years, from 29 countries or regions) included 23% non-Japanese speakers. Japanese and non-Japanese speakers had similar discontinuation rates (26% vs 22%). Multivariable models revealed younger age (OR=0.97; 95% CI: 0.95, 0.99; p=0.016) and those with a primary diagnosis other than a schizophrenia spectrum disorder (OR=3.99; 95% CI: 1.36, 11.77; p=0.012) or a neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorder (OR=2.79; 95% CI: 1.14, 6.84; p=0.025) had higher odds of early discontinuation. These effects were more pronounced among the Japanese speakers with significant language-by-age and language-by-diagnoses interactions. CONCLUSION: Younger age and having a primary diagnosis other than a schizophrenia spectrum disorder or a neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorder increased vulnerability for discontinuing mental health treatment early in Japanese-speaking migrants but not for migrants with limited Japanese proficiency. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Understanding language needs within a context of mental health treatment should go beyond assumed or observed fluency. Unmet language needs might increase vulnerability for treatment disengagement among migrants. Targeted clinical efforts are crucial for enhancing early treatment engagement and informing health practices in Japan and countries with growing migrant populations.

BACKGROUND: While insurance is integral for accessing healthcare in the US, coverage alone may not ensure access, especially for those publicly insured. Access barriers for Medicaid-insured patients are rooted in social drivers of health, insurance complexities in the setting of managed care plans, and federal- and state-level policies. Elucidating barriers at the health system level may reveal opportunities for sustainable solutions. METHODS: To understand barriers to ambulatory care access for patients with Medi-Cal (Californias Medicaid program) and identify improvement opportunities, we performed a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews of a referred sample of clinicians and administrative staff members experienced with clinical patient encounters and/or completion of referral processes for patients with Medi-Cal (n = 19) at a large academic medical center. The interview guide covered the four process steps to accessing care within the health system: (1) scheduling, (2) referral and authorization, (3) contracting, and (4) the clinical encounter. We transcribed and inductively coded the interviews, then organized themes across the four steps to identify perceptions of barriers to access and improvement opportunities for ambulatory care for patients with Medi-Cal. RESULTS: Clinicians and administrative staff members at a large academic medical center revealed barriers to ambulatory care access for Medi-Cal insured patients, including lack of awareness of system-level policy, complexities surrounding insurance contracting, limited resources for social support, and poor dissemination of information to patients. Particularly, interviews revealed how managed Medi-Cal impacts academic health systems through additional time and effort by frontline staff to facilitate patient access compared to fee-for-service Medi-Cal. Interviewees reported that this resulted in patient care delays, suboptimal care coordination, and care fragmentation. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight gaps in system-level policy, inconsistencies in pursuing insurance authorizations, limited resources for scheduling and social work support, and poor dissemination of information to and between providers and patients, which limit access to care at an academic medical center for Medi-Cal insured patients. Many interviewees additionally shared the moral injury that they experienced as they witnessed patient care delays in the absence of system-level structures to address these barriers. Reform at the state, insurance organization, and institutional levels is necessary to form solutions within Medi-Cal innovation efforts.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are novel oral anti-hyperglycemic drugs that demonstrate cardiovascular and metabolic benefits for patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), heart failure (HF), and chronic kidney disease (CKD). There is limited knowledge of real-world data to predict adherence to SGLT-2i in an ambulatory setting. The study aims to predict SGLT-2i adherence in patients with T2D and/or HF and/or CKD by building a prediction model using electronic prescription claims data presented within EPIC datasets. This is a retrospective study of 174 adult patients prescribed SGLT-2i at UC San Diego Health ambulatory pharmacies between 1 January 2020 to 30 April 2021. Adherence was measured by the proportion of days covered (PDC). R packages were used to identify regression and non-linear regression predictive models to predict adherence. Age, gender, race/ethnicity, hemoglobin A1c, and insurance plan were included in the model. Diabetes control based on hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was also evaluated using Welch t-test with a p-value of 0.05. The best predictive model for measuring adherence was the simple decision tree. It had the highest area under the curve (AUC) of 74% and accuracy of 82%. The model accounted for 21 variables with the main node predictors, including glycated hemoglobin, age, gender, and insurance plan payment amount. The adherence rate was inversely proportional to HbA1c and directly proportional to the plan payment amount. As for secondary outcomes, HbA1c values from baseline till 90 days post-treatment duration were consistently higher in the non-compliant group: 7.4% vs. 9.6%, p < 0.001 for the PDC ≥ 0.80 and PDC < 0.80, respectively. Baseline eGFR was 55.18 mL/min/1.73m2 vs. 54.23 mL/min/m2 at 90 days. The mean eGFR at the end of the study (minimum of 90 days of treatment) was statistically different between the groups: 53.1 vs. 59.6 mL/min/1.73 m2, p < 0.001 for the PDC ≥ 0.80 and PDC < 0.80, respectively. Adherence predictive models will help clinicians to tailor regimens based on non-adherence risk scores.

Patient experience is a key aspect of care quality. Since the 2007 release of the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Clinician and Group (CG-CAHPS) survey, no systematic review of factors associated with CG-CAHPS scores has been reported. We reviewed 52 peer-reviewed English language articles published in the United States using CG-CAHPS data. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines and used the Checklist for Analytical Cross-Sectional Studies. We identified several interventions (eg, adding a care coordinator focused on chronic care management) associated with improved overall provider rating and 2 interventions (eg, peer shadow coaching) that improved provider communication scores. Studies evaluating the implementation of patient-centered medical homes or patient-reported outcomes found mixed results. We identified site-level factors (eg, better team communication) and provider-level factors (eg, physician empathy) associated with better patient experience. In contrast, patient-level factors (eg, medication adherence) found mixed associations with patient experience. Policymakers, clinicians, and healthcare leaders can leverage this evidence for quality improvement efforts and interventions supporting patient-centered care.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics of patients who received outpatient therapy services through an infant bridge program using telehealth mode of service delivery and to identify if attendance rates vary by mode of service delivery. We hypothesized that telehealth visits will increase attendance rates. DESIGN: Retrospective, cross-sectional study. SETTING: UCSF Benioff Childrens Hospital outpatient infant bridge program. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty infants with a history of NICU admission and scheduled for a therapy appointment between June 1, 2019 and December 31, 2020 were included in the study. Participants had an average(SD) gestational age of 34.63(4.41) weeks and length of stay was 43.55(56.03) weeks. The majority were English-speaking (96.3%), White (37.5%), and had commercial insurance (72.5%). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Descriptive analyses were conducted across the entire group along with service delivery model subgroup analysis. Logistic regression was performed to assess patient characteristics associated with attendance and if service delivery model influences attendance. RESULTS: In the analysis of 596 scheduled visits, there were more completed telehealth sessions than for in-person sessions (90.0% versus 84.1%, p = .011). For in-person sessions, infants (N = 40) with lower birth gestational ages (p = .009), longer length of stay (p = .041), and Medi-Cal insurance (p = .006) were more likely to have ≥2 missed appointments. For the telehealth sessions, infants (N = 40) who had longer length of stay (p = .040) were more likely to have ≥2 missed appointments. There is a higher likelihood of ≥2 missed appointments for patients with a longer length of stay (OR = 1.02, 95% CI [1.01, 1.03]) and for in-person service delivery when compared to telehealth (OR = 6.25, 95% CI [1.37, 28.57]). CONCLUSIONS: Telehealth was associated with higher likelihood of attendance, revealing that telehealth has the potential to increase access to early therapy services for certain populations. Future studies with larger sample sizes to determine which populations benefit from telehealth is recommended.

Objective: In this study, we assessed the usefulness of a previsit questionnaire for children who were referred for an initial evaluation in a mitochondrial subspecialty clinic. We explored the themes regarding parent's questions, concerns, and goals. We aimed to add to existing knowledge about the usefulness of previsit questionnaires in a pediatric specialty setting from the perspective of parents, the specialist, and the clinical coordinator. Method: We enrolled 25 patients and their parent(s) over 25 months. Questionnaires were completed by the parent(s), the clinical coordinator, and the mitochondrial specialist. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to summarize results. Results: Parental responses suggested that they are most concerned about their child's clinical problems, communication, language and developmental delays, disease progression and prognosis, understanding mitochondrial disease, quality of life, and physical challenges including muscle and energy problems. Parents felt the previsit questionnaire was very helpful for both the doctor and for themselves to be prepared for their visit. The specialist and the clinical coordinator also found it to be helpful. Parental comments suggested that they felt that writing down the story of their child's life was helpful for the provider, allowed time for reflection, and improved the appointment experience. Some felt it was a difficult or redundant activity. Conclusion: Parents were often pleased to complete the previsit questionnaire. This allowed them to highlight concerns and share information that they wanted the care team to know about their child. We revised the tool based on feedback from parents and the specialist and will continue to use it in our clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies show a significant increase in frailty prevalence among older adults worldwide. Fortunately, several well-established and user-friendly screening tools can effectively identify frailty in older adults. Objectives: This article examines the Clinical Frailty Scale's effectiveness in informing treatment decisions for older adults in ambulatory care settings, analyzing its potential to improve patient care. Methods: On April 1, 2024, the PubMed database was searched for articles on the Clinical Frailty Scale in elderly patients. The 116 most pertinent and current articles, written in English and published within the past few years, were analyzed, and 38 were selected and categorized by content and topic. Limitations: This study is limited because it is not a meta-analysis and thus does not examine the quality of the evidence presented in each article. Conclusions: Frailty research has illuminated aging and its potential biological causes. The Clinical Frailty Scale effectively identifies vulnerable individuals. By using the CFS to assess frailty risk, healthcare providers can personalize treatment plans and improve overall care for older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusions Paediatric periorbital cellulitis, a common eye condition, typically requires inpatient admission for intravenous antibiotics due to concerns about orbital spread. This study aimed to assess the safety and effectiveness of ambulatory management for children with moderate periorbital cellulitis.Over a 24‐month period, we prospectively enrolled 84 children aged 1 to 16 years who presented with moderate periorbital cellulitis to the emergency department. Demographic and clinical data were collected. Following a guideline‐based decision tree, eligible children received intravenous antibiotics and were discharged with a peripheral cannula for follow‐up in ambulatory care and ophthalmology clinics. Descriptive statistics were used for data presentation.Among the 84 children, 62 (73.8%) were managed through the ambulatory care model. Within the category of moderate POC, those who were admitted to the hospital did not have higher CRP or White Cell counts and received IV antibiotics for the same length of time. The ambulatory care clinic provided a total of 132 daily doses of intravenous antibiotics. Two children treated on this pathway required inpatient admission due to clinical deterioration, one of whom required ophthalmic surgical intervention. There was no mortality or sight‐threatening complications in this study.Implementing a directed ambulatory care pathway for children with moderate periorbital cellulitis proved to be an effective and safe management strategy. This approach reduces the strain on hospital bed occupancy while promoting community‐based patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamic teaming is required whenever people must coordinate with one another in a fluid context, particularly when the fundamental structures of a team, such as membership, priorities, tasks, modes of communication, and location are in near-constant flux. This is certainly the case in the contemporary ambulatory care diagnostic process, where circumstances and conditions require a shifting cast of individuals to coordinate dynamically to ensure patient safety. This article offers an updated perspective on dynamic teaming commonly required during the ambulatory diagnostic process. Drawing upon team science, it clarifies the characteristics of dynamic diagnostic teams, identifies common risk points in the teaming process and the practical implications of these risks, considers the role of providers and patients in averting adverse outcomes, and provides a case example of the challenges of dynamic teaming during the diagnostic process. Based on this, future research needs are offered as well as clinical practice recommendations related to team characteristics and breakdowns, team member knowledge/cognitions, teaming dynamics, and the patient as a team member. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patient experience is a key aspect of care quality. Since the 2007 release of the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Clinician and Group (CG-CAHPS) survey, no systematic review of factors associated with CG-CAHPS scores has been reported. We reviewed 52 peer-reviewed English language articles published in the United States using CG-CAHPS data. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines and used the Checklist for Analytical Cross-Sectional Studies. We identified several interventions (eg, adding a care coordinator focused on chronic care management) associated with improved overall provider rating and 2 interventions (eg, peer shadow coaching) that improved provider communication scores. Studies evaluating the implementation of patient-centered medical homes or patient-reported outcomes found mixed results. We identified site-level factors (eg, better team communication) and provider-level factors (eg, physician empathy) associated with better patient experience. In contrast, patient-level factors (eg, medication adherence) found mixed associations with patient experience. Policymakers, clinicians, and healthcare leaders can leverage this evidence for quality improvement efforts and interventions supporting patient-centered care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction The prevalence of moderate to severe sleep-disordered breathing is of 17% among men aged between 50 and 70-years, and of 9% among women in the same age group. In Brazil, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is also highly prevalent, and it is associated with metabolic and cardiovascular impacts, excessive daytime sleepiness, and increasing risk of traffic accidents. Laboratory-based polysomnography is the gold standard test for OSA diagnosis. However, its complexity has led to the search for alternatives to simplify the diagnosis, such as the out-of-center sleep test (OCST). Objectives To discusses the minimum OCST recording time and the potential effects of the supine position on this parameter. Data Synthesis We conducted a search on the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase databases to identify relevant studies on OCST recording time and a possible association with body position. We used a combination of terms, including Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Home Monitoring OR Home Care Services OR Portable Monitoring AND Supine OR Position OR Recording Time OR Positional Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The references of the selected articles were also reviewed to find other relevant studies. Through our approach, eighteen articles were retrieved and included in the present study. Conclusion Since OCSTs are conducted in an unattended environment, with potential signal loss during the night, it is crucial to determine the minimum recording time to validate the test and assess how the time spent in the supine position affects this parameter. After reviewing the literature, this topic remains to be clarified, and additional studies should focus on that matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between depression and ambulatory care utilization is unclear. The authors sought to determine the association between untreated depression and ambulatory care utilization, including the extent to which care is fragmented, or spread across providers. The authors conducted a longitudinal study using data from the nationwide REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke study linked to Medicare fee-for-service claims (N = 1412). They categorized participants into three study groups, based on self-reported depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale score ≥ 4) and a medication inventory for antidepressants: Symptomatic Untreated (SU), Symptomatic Treated (ST), and Asymptomatic Treated (AT). The authors used descriptive statistics to characterize ambulatory care patterns by study group. They determined the association between the study group and fragmentation score (with high fragmentation defined as a reversed Bice–Boxerman Index ≥ 0.85) using multivariable logistic regression. All groups had similar numbers of primary care visits, but the SU group had the fewest specialist visits. The SU group had the lowest proportion of participants who received care from a psychiatrist (3.4% vs. 10.7% for ST and 11.9% for AT, pairwise P-values < 0.001). The SU group was the least likely to have highly fragmented care (adjusted odds ratio 0.68; 95% confidence interval 0.48, 0.95, compared with the ST group). These results suggest that older adults with untreated depression are not engaged in excess care-seeking behaviors. Rather, the results suggest undertreatment of depression in primary care and underutilization of psychiatric care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The existence of a stable usual source of care (USC) is fundamental to the provision of quality health care. However, no longitudinal studies have examined whether core primary care attributes influence the stability of USC status. Objectives We aimed to examine the association between primary care attributes (first contact, longitudinality, coordination, comprehensiveness, and community orientation) and the loss or change of USC. Methods This nationwide cohort study was conducted during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic using a representative sample of the Japanese adult population aged 40–75 years. The primary outcome measures were loss of USC and voluntary change in USC during the 12-month follow-up period. Primary care attributes were evaluated in the baseline survey using the Japanese version of Primary Care Assessment Tool (JPCAT). Results Data were analyzed for 725 participants who had a USC at baseline. Among them, 93 (12.8 %) lost their USC and 46 (6.3%) changed their USC during the follow-up period. Multivariable multinominal logistic regression analyses showed that the JPCAT total score was associated with decreased loss of USC and change in USC. Among the JPCAT domains, longitudinality, comprehensiveness (services available), and community orientation were associated with reductions in both USC loss and change. Conclusions Our study indicates that primary care attributes play an important role in preventing the loss or change of USC and contribute to the stability of USC status. These findings provide additional rationale for policymakers, healthcare providers, and managers to seek to strengthen core attributes of primary care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One‐third of people living with dementia (PLWD) have highly fragmented care (i.e., care spread across many ambulatory providers without a dominant provider). It is unclear whether PLWD with fragmented care and their caregivers perceive gaps in communication among the providers involved and whether any such gaps are perceived as benign inconveniences or as clinically meaningful, leading to adverse events. We sought to determine the frequency of perceived gaps in communication (coordination) among providers and the frequency of self‐reported adverse events attributed to poor coordination. Methods: We conducted a cross‐sectional study in the context of a Medicare accountable care organization (ACO) in New York in 2022–2023. We included PLWD who were attributed to the ACO, had fragmented care in the past year by claims (reversed Bice‐Boxerman Index ≥0.86), and were in a pragmatic clinical trial on care management. We used an existing survey instrument to determine perceptions of care coordination and perceptions of four adverse events (repeat tests, drug–drug interactions, emergency department visits, and hospital admissions). ACO care managers collected data by telephone, using clinical judgment to determine whether each survey respondent was the patient or a caregiver. We used descriptive statistics to summarize results. Results: Of 167 eligible PLWD, surveys were completed for 97 (58.1%). Of those, 88 (90.7%) reported having >1 ambulatory visit and >1 ambulatory provider and were thus at risk for gaps in care coordination and included in the analysis. Of those, 23 respondents were patients (26.1%) and 64 were caregivers (72.7%), with one respondent's role missing. Overall, 57% of respondents reported a problem (or "gap") in the coordination of care and, separately, 18% reported an adverse event that they attributed to poor care coordination. Conclusion: Gaps in coordination of care for PLWD are reported to be very common and often perceived as hazardous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose This article describes the implementation and evaluation of pharmacogenomic testing within the hematology/oncology ambulatory care clinic at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison, WI. Summary The Pharmacogenomic Testing for Veterans (PHASER) program provides preemptive pharmacogenomic testing for veterans nationally. Program implementation at the Madison Veterans Affairs site began in the hematology/oncology clinic with the goal of integrating the offer for pharmacogenomic testing, testing completion, and review of the results by the hematology/oncology clinical pharmacist practitioner (CPP) into current workflows to create a sustainable process for PHASER. The hematology/oncology CPP designed workflows outlining how testing would be offered to patients, how results would be reported and to whom, and how documentation would occur in the electronic medical record. Veterans are offered preemptive PHASER testing, before needing therapy requiring pharmacogenomic results. Exceptions to pharmacogenomic testing were patients with a history of liver or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Conclusion This article provides a summary of the role of the hematology/oncology CPP in the implementation of a pharmacogenomics service and the impact on medication management in a hematology/oncology clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Telemedicine has been essential during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In March 2020, pharmacist-led chronic disease state management services at our family care centers and primary care clinics were converted to telemedicine. This study aimed to determine the impact of expanding telemedicine services on appointment adherence, clinical outcomes, and financial reimbursement. Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective, quasi-experimental study of the impact of expanding telemedicine services on adult patients with diabetes, hypertension, and/or hyperlipidemia. The study included patients scheduled with a pharmacist at a hospital-based (HB) or physician-based (PB) clinic. The primary outcome was the difference in the mean no-show rate. The secondary outcomes were differences in mean change in HbA1c, LDL, blood pressure, and reimbursement. Mean differences between pre- and post-telemedicine groups of each clinic were measured for all outcomes. Results: The mean difference (SE) in the no-show rate in the HB clinic was -12.09% (4.862; P =.014), compared to 2.88% (3.656; P =.431) in the PB clinic. The mean difference (SE) in the change in HbA1c in the HB clinic was.00% (.338; P =.992), compared to.01% (.239; P =.945) in the PB clinic. The mean difference (SE) in reimbursement in the HB clinic was $1.93 (4.209; P =.647), compared to $20.46 (3.210; P <.0001) in the PB clinic. Conclusion: Expansion of pharmacy telemedicine services provided evidence for improved appointment adherence in the HB clinic and increased reimbursement in the PB clinic. No change in healthcare outcomes was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Annual wellness visits (AWVs) guide appropriate patient care through lifestyle modifications, medication intervention, or social assistance. We launched a quality improvement program to target Medicare beneficiaries as part of an Accountable Care Organization (ACO). Key stakeholders collectively implemented a process consisting of two cohorts: AWVs completed with the support of the pharmacy team or directly by providers. A standardized workflow for the pharmacy cohort involved the clinical pharmacists and pharmacy extenders, allowing a layered learning experience. The AWV completion rate was optimized with the interventions of the pharmacy team. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical cross‐coverage in ambulatory care pharmacy practice is currently lacking and can lead to gaps in patient care, lost revenue generation, and pharmacist burnout due to a lack of time and support for indirect patient care and non‐clinical activities. To address this need, a cross‐coverage model for a team of ambulatory care pharmacists practicing in diverse clinical settings was developed and is primarily supported by a single broadly‐trained pharmacist known as an ambulatory care generalist. Cross‐coverage from the ambulatory care generalist includes in‐person and virtual patient care as well as in‐basket management and is available to all clinic‐based pharmacists on the specialty and primary care team with a few select clinics involving a designated collaborative practice agreement. The cross‐covering pharmacist has been shown to positively impact productivity measures and components of pharmacist burnout. Widespread implementation of this cross‐coverage model has the potential to greatly impact pharmacy practice and patient care in the ambulatory care setting and increase sources of revenue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The rise in health care expenditures continues to pose a significant concern regarding the longevity of the current health care system design. The literature has demonstrated a positive return on investment (ROI) when pharmacists perform medication management services. Building upon positive ROI literature, a clinically integrated network (CIN) in Michigan developed an approach to patient targeting for comprehensive medication management (CMM) services in existing alternative payment model (APM) Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and Commercial contracts. Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to examine the real‐world impact of an advanced ambulatory care pharmacy model, inclusive of embedded clinic‐based ambulatory pharmacists, centralized ambulatory pharmacists, centralized population health pharmacists, and specially trained pharmacy technicians, on the total cost of care (TCOC) within a large integrated health system. Methods: For CMM dates of service occurring in calendar year 2022, pharmacy and medical claims were evaluated during the 6‐month period prior to and following the initial CMM patient encounter. Upon completion of the study period, data were evaluated to assess TCOC and utilization trends for the study population. Results: Statistically significant differences in median TCOC ($1427.84, p < 0.001), prescription drug costs ($222.82, p < 0.001), and medical costs ($462.26, p < 0.001) were observed between the pre‐CMM and post‐CMM timeframes for the study population. A 16% reduction in hospital admissions was observed between the pre‐CMM and post‐CMM timeframes. Discussion: This study further supports that pharmacist intervention as part of a CMM program can favorably affect health care costs. Criteria such as a population's benchmark costs and utilization, insurance product types, and core conditions present can help determine whether expanding or initiating CMM services could be beneficial in improving care and health care costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: By transmitting various types of data, telemedical care enables the provision of care where physicians and patients are physically separated. In nursing homes, telemedicine has the potential to reduce hospital admissions in nonemergency situations. In this study, telemedicine devices were implemented with the new 5G mobile communications standard in selected wards of a large nursing home in Northwest Germany. The main aim of this study is to investigate which individual and organizational factors are associated with the use of telemedicine devices and how users perceive the feasibility and implementation of such devices. Moreover, it is investigated whether the telemedical devices help to reduce the number of emergency admissions. Methods: Telemedicine devices are implemented over an 18-month period using a private 5G network, and all users receive training. This study uses qualitative and quantitative methods: To assess the individual and organizational factors associated with the use of telemedicine devices, survey data from employees before and after the implementation of these devices are compared. To assess the perception of the implementation process as well as the feasibility and usability of the telemedical devices, the nursing staff, physicians, medical assistants and residents are interviewed individually. Moreover, every telemedicine consultation is evaluated with a short survey. To assess whether the number of emergency admissions decreased, data from one year before implementation and one year after implementation are compared. The data are provided by the integrated dispatch centre and emergency medical services (EMS) protocols. The interview data are analysed via structured qualitative content analysis according to Kuckartz. Survey data are analysed using multivariable regression analysis. Discussion: Learnings from the implementation process will be used to inform future projects implementing telemedicine in care organizations, making the final telemedicine implementation and care concept available to more nursing homes and hospitals. Moreover, the study results can be used to provide use cases for appropriate and targeted application of telemedicine in nursing homes and to define the role of 5G technologies in these use cases. If the intervention is proven successful, the results will be used to promote 5G network rollout. Trial registration: German Clinical Trials Register – trial registration number: DRKS00030598. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fragmentation of care (that is, the use of multiple ambulatory providers without a dominant provider) may increase the risk of gaps in communication among providers. However, it is unclear whether people with fragmented care (as measured in claims) perceive more gaps in communication among their providers. It is also unclear whether people who perceive gaps in communication experience them as clinically significant (that is, whether they experience adverse events that they attribute to poor coordination). Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study using data from the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study, including a survey on perceptions of healthcare (2017–2018) and linked fee-for-service Medicare claims (for the 12 months prior to the survey) (N = 4,296). We estimated correlation coefficients to determine associations between claims-based and self-reported numbers of ambulatory visits and ambulatory providers. We then used logistic regression to determine associations between claims-based fragmentation (measured with the reversed Bice-Boxerman Index [rBBI]) and self-reported gaps in care coordination and, separately, between claims-based fragmentation and self-reported adverse events that the respondent attributed to poor coordination. Results: The correlation coefficient between claims-based and self-report was 0.37 for the number of visits and 0.38 for the number of providers (p < 0.0001 for each). Individuals with high fragmentation by claims (rBBI ≥ 0.85) had a 23% increased adjusted odds of reporting any gap in care coordination (95% CI 3%, 48%) and, separately, a 61% increased adjusted odds of reporting an adverse event that they attributed to poor coordination (95% CI 11%, 134%). Conclusions: Medicare beneficiaries with claims-based fragmentation also report gaps in communication among their providers. Moreover, these gaps appear to be clinically significant, with beneficiaries reporting adverse events that they attribute to poor coordination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study describes how New York City (NYC) Health + Hospitals implemented a large-scale Community Health Worker (CHW) program in adult primary care clinics between January 2022 and December 2023 and established metrics to monitor program implementation. This study is timely as healthcare systems consider how to scale high-quality CHW programs. Methods: We collected metrics in the following areas: (1) Workforce demographics, team structure, and training; (2) Enrolled patient demographics; (3) Patient-centered metrics, such as patient counts (e.g. patients outreached and enrolled) and engagement (e.g. median time in program, caseloads per CHW), and goals (e.g. median number of goals identified and completed). Metrics are based on standard data elements captured through CHW documentation in the electronic health record collected during program implementation. Data cleaning is completed using SQL queries and R scripts. Results: In June 2023, there were a total of 97 CHW and 22 CHW Supervisor staff lines in adult primary care across 17 healthcare sites. There were 4.6 CHWs to 1 CHW supervisor on average though this ranged by facility from 1:1 to 1:6. Compared to the population that receives primary care at NYC H + H, CHWs served more African American/Black patients (40% vs. 32%) and an older patient population (35% older than 65 vs. 21% older than 65). From January 2022 to December 2023, 13,812 patients were outreached by CHWs. Of these, 9,069 (66%) were referred by clinicians, 7,331 (53%) were enrolled, and 5,044 (37%) successfully graduated. The median number of goals identified by patients was four, and the median number of goals completed with a CHW per patient was three. The top three goals were primary care engagement (47%), specialty care engagement (46%), and food insecurity (45%). Conclusion: Establishing clear implementation and process metrics helps to ensure that CHWs embedded in health systems can meaningfully engage adult patients in health care, address patient-centered goals, and connect patients to community and government services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose This report describes the step-by-step process that led to expansion of ambulatory care pharmacy services at a newly established internal medicine clinic within a patient-centered medical home in North Carolina. Summary Implementation of clinical pharmacist services at the clinic was led by a postgraduate year 2 (PGY2) pharmacy resident and guided by the 9 steps described in the book Building a Successful Ambulatory Care Practice: A Complete Guide for Pharmacists. After a needs assessment and review of the demographics and insurance status of the clinic's target population, it was determined that pharmacist services would focus on quality measures including diabetes nephropathy screening, diabetes eye examination, blood glucose control in diabetes, discharge medication reconciliation, annual wellness visits, and medication adherence in diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension. Clinic appointments were conducted under 3 models: a pharmacist-physician covisit model, a "floor model" of pharmacist consultation on drug information or medication management issues during medical resident sign-out sessions with supervising physicians (medical residents could also see patients along with the pharmacist at a covisit appointment), and a covisit model of stacked physician and pharmacist appointments. The pharmacist's services were expanded from 2 half-day clinic sessions per week initially to 5 or 6 half-day clinic sessions by the end of the residency year. Conclusion By the fourth quarter of the first PGY2 residency year in which ambulatory care pharmacy services were provided in the clinic, the clinical and financial impact of those services justified the addition of a second full-time pharmacist to the clinic team. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prescribing by pharmacists is an increasingly common practice worldwide. In Brazil regulation of this practice began in 2013, and the practice remains unexplored as a research topic. We aimed to explore and gain insights into pharmacist prescribing practices in Brazil and assessing pharmacist's perceptions of their training and preparedness to prescribe medications. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between October 2022 and March 2023 via convenience sampling. Data were collected using an online questionnaire covering sociodemographic issues, academic training, prescribing practices, and perceptions regarding the provision of pharmacist prescribing in ambulatory care. Exploratory descriptive analysis and Poisson regression were performed to estimate the associations between pharmacist characteristics and their practices in prescribing medicines. Among the 305 valid responses, 58.7% of the outpatient pharmacists stated that they had not prescribed any medication in the previous three years. Over-the-counter medication prescriptions were most common (42.0%). Only 4.6% of respondents had prescribed prescription-only medicines provided through collaborative agreement, with 2.6% reporting that they had adjusted doses, and 2.3% played a role in prescription renewal. Pharmacists living in Northeast regions tended to be more active prescribers (PR = 1.42; 95%CI 1.03–2.18), whereas those in primary healthcare (PR = 0.61; 95%CI 0.39–0.96) and self-declared Black pharmacists (PR = 0.30; 95%CI 0.10–0.97) prescribed less. Respondents strongly believed in the pharmacist's role as a prescriber, although they remained ambivalent regarding their responsibility for patient outcomes. Progress barriers include infrastructure gaps and strained relationships with physicians. This study suggests that pharmacists in Brazil predominantly prescribe over-the-counter medications, and variations in setting, region, and race can influence prescribing by pharmacist in ambulatory care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Outpatient treatment of pregnant patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is recommended by some obstetric and haematology societies but has not been described in the literature. Little is known about patient selection and clinical outcomes. Case summary We report two cases of pregnant patients diagnosed with acute PE. The first, at 9 weeks of gestational age, presented to the emergency department with 12 h of pleuritic chest pain and was diagnosed with segmental PE. She was normotensive and tachycardic without evidence of right ventricular dysfunction. She received multispecialty evaluation, was deemed suitable for outpatient management, and, after 12 h of monitoring, was discharged home on enoxaparin with close follow-up. The second case, at 30 weeks of gestational age, presented to obstetrics clinic with 3 days of dyspnoea. Vital signs were normal except for tachycardia. She was referred to labour and delivery, where she was diagnosed with segmental PE. Her vital signs were stable, and she had no evidence of right ventricular dysfunction. After 6 h of monitoring, she was discharged home on enoxaparin with close follow-up. Neither patient developed antenatal complications from their PE or its treatment. Discussion This case series is the first to our knowledge to describe patient and treatment characteristics of pregnant patients with acute PE cared for as outpatients. We propose a definition for this phenomenon and discuss the benefits of and provisional selection criteria for outpatient PE management, while engaging with professional society guidelines and the literature. This understudied practice warrants further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Innere Medizin (2731-7080) is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Managing pain and distress in children experiencing procedural pain is a priority in pediatric care. Nitrous oxide (pre-mixed formulation of 50% nitrous oxide to 50% oxygen) is widely used to alleviate anxiety or pain during care procedures in various medical domains. This pharmacological intervention is safe to administer to children. Administration by non-anesthesiologist personnel is widespread throughout the world, though it is almost exclusively performed by doctors and nurses. The purpose of this study is to describe the experience of nitrous oxide (N2O) use by medical assistants and safe handling during the performance of painful procedures. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in a pediatric outpatient unit of a regional hospital, including medical and surgical consultations. Results: Nitrous oxide was administered by medical assistants to 324 children aged 3 to 19 years. No respiratory and/or cardiovascular problems were noted. Most patients were calm and relaxed. Discussion: The use of N2O for minor procedures in children in a pediatric outpatient unit improved pain management through administration by medical assistants with a high level of satisfaction from patients, parents and health professionals. Conclusions: This study suggests that the use of nitrous oxide by trained medical assistants can be safe, feasible and effective within the specific context of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

BACKGROUND: Pediatric patients transferred by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) from urgent care (UC) and office-based physician practices to the emergency department (ED) following activation of the 9-1-1 EMS system are an under-studied population with scarce literature regarding outcomes for these children. The objectives of this study were to describe this population, explore EMS level-of-care transport decisions, and examine ED outcomes. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of patients zero to

Abstract Background Fragmentation of care (that is, the use of multiple ambulatory providers without a dominant provider) may increase the risk of gaps in communication among providers. However, it is unclear whether people with fragmented care (as measured in claims) perceive more gaps in communication among their providers. It is also unclear whether people who perceive gaps in communication experience them as clinically significant (that is, whether they experience adverse events that they attribute to poor coordination). Methods We conducted a longitudinal study using data from the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study, including a survey on perceptions of healthcare (2017–2018) and linked fee-for-service Medicare claims (for the 12 months prior to the survey) (N = 4,296). We estimated correlation coefficients to determine associations between claims-based and self-reported numbers of ambulatory visits and ambulatory providers. We then used logistic regression to determine associations between claims-based fragmentation (measured with the reversed Bice-Boxerman Index [rBBI]) and self-reported gaps in care coordination and, separately, between claims-based fragmentation and self-reported adverse events that the respondent attributed to poor coordination. Results The correlation coefficient between claims-based and self-report was 0.37 for the number of visits and 0.38 for the number of providers (p

Abstract Background This study describes how New York City (NYC) Health + Hospitals implemented a large-scale Community Health Worker (CHW) program in adult primary care clinics between January 2022 and December 2023 and established metrics to monitor program implementation. This study is timely as healthcare systems consider how to scale high-quality CHW programs. Methods We collected metrics in the following areas: (1) Workforce demographics, team structure, and training; (2) Enrolled patient demographics; (3) Patient-centered metrics, such as patient counts (e.g. patients outreached and enrolled) and engagement (e.g. median time in program, caseloads per CHW), and goals (e.g. median number of goals identified and completed). Metrics are based on standard data elements captured through CHW documentation in the electronic health record collected during program implementation. Data cleaning is completed using SQL queries and R scripts. Results In June 2023, there were a total of 97 CHW and 22 CHW Supervisor staff lines in adult primary care across 17 healthcare sites. There were 4.6 CHWs to 1 CHW supervisor on average though this ranged by facility from 1:1 to 1:6. Compared to the population that receives primary care at NYC H + H, CHWs served more African American/Black patients (40% vs. 32%) and an older patient population (35% older than 65 vs. 21% older than 65). From January 2022 to December 2023, 13,812 patients were outreached by CHWs. Of these, 9,069 (66%) were referred by clinicians, 7,331 (53%) were enrolled, and 5,044 (37%) successfully graduated. The median number of goals identified by patients was four, and the median number of goals completed with a CHW per patient was three. The top three goals were primary care engagement (47%), specialty care engagement (46%), and food insecurity (45%). Conclusion Establishing clear implementation and process metrics helps to ensure that CHWs embedded in health systems can meaningfully engage adult patients in health care, address patient-centered goals, and connect patients to community and government services.

Background The prevalence of allergic diseases is rapidly increasing among the global population, affecting 10%-40% of people worldwide. Allergic diseases often begin in childhood. So far, data for analyzing the trends in the incidence of pediatric allergic diseases in China over the past decade are scant. This study aims to provide an epidemiological support for the prevention and management of pediatric allergic diseases in China by mining electronic medical record data from a single-center institution. Objective To analyze the annual proportion and trend of outpatient visits for allergic diseases among children aged 0-18 years in the Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University from 2014 to 2021. Methods A retrospective analysis of outpatient electronic medical records from the hospital information system of Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University from 2014 to 2021 was conducted to examine the annual proportional composition and changes in the trend changes of allergic diseases. The gender- and age-based proportions of different allergic diseases including eczema, urticaria, allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, allergic cough, allergic conjunctivitis, food allergies, drug allergies, pollen allergy, and anaphylaxis were calculated. The trend of changes in the proportion of allergic diseases with stable annual composition ranking in the top 10 was further analyzed. Results From 2014 to 2021, there were a total of 1 231 890 outpatient visits for pediatric allergic diseases in our center. After excluding missing data, a total of 1 231 863 eligible cases were included, involving 727 082 (59.0%) boys and 504 781 (41.0%) girls. The majority of children visited for allergic diseases were under the age of 3 years (46.9%). Non-IgE mediated allergic diseases, such as henoch-schoenlein purpura, bronchitis, and respiratory tract infections were excluded, and the remaining 1 208 265 cases included in the disease spectrum analysis. From 2016 to 2021, the proportion of outpatient visits for pediatric allergic diseases in Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University showed an upward trend. From 2014 to 2017, the top 5 allergic diseases visited in the outpatient department were eczema, urticaria, allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, and allergic cough. From 2018 to 2021, allergic rhinitis, eczema, urticaria, allergic conjunctivitis, and bronchial asthma ranked the top 5. The trend analysis for an annual proportion of pediatric allergic diseases showed that the ratios of allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and food allergies among all allergic diseases from 2014 to 2021 showed an increasing trend, with peak ratios of 45.4%, 11.1% and 2.8%, respectively. The ratios of urticaria, eczema, and bronchial asthma showed a decreasing trend, with peak ratios of 46.5%, 24.9% and 11.3%, respectively. Conclusion From 2016 to 2021, the proportion of outpatient visits for pediatric allergic diseases in Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University showed an upward trend. Between 2014 and 2021, the annual proportions of allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and food allergies exhibited an increasing trend, while the annual proportions of eczema, urticaria, and bronchial asthma demonstrated a decreasing trend.

BACKGROUND: Vulnerable older adults living with Alzheimers disease or Alzheimers disease and related dementia (AD/ADRD) and chronic pain generally receive fewer pain medications than individuals without AD/ADRD, especially in nursing homes. Little is known about pain management in older adults with AD/ADRD in the community. The aim of the study was to examine opioid prescribing patterns in individuals with chronic pain by levels of cognitive ability in ambulatory care. METHODS: We used the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), years 2002-2017, and identified three levels of cognitive impairment: no cognitive impairment (NCI), individuals reporting cognitive impairment (CI) without an AD/ADRD diagnosis, and individuals with a diagnosis of AD/ADRD. We examined any receipt of an opioid prescription and the number of opioid prescriptions using a logistic and negative binomial regression adjusting for sociodemographic and health characteristics and stratifying by three types of chronic pain (any chronic pain, severe chronic pain, and chronic pain identified through ICD 9/10 chronic pain diagnoses). RESULTS: Among people with any chronic pain, adjusted odds of receiving an opioid for people with CI (OR 1.41, 95% confidence interval 1.31-1.52) and AD/ADRD (OR 1.23, 95% confidence interval 1.04-1.45) were higher compared to NCI. Among people with chronic pain ICD 9/10 conditions, the odds of receiving an opioid were also higher for those with CI (OR 1.43, 95% confidence interval 1.34-1.56) and AD/ADRD (OR 1.48, 95% confidence interval 1.23-1.78) compared to NCI. Among those with severe chronic pain, people with CI were more likely to receive an opioid (OR 1.17, 95% confidence interval 1.07-1.27) relative to NCI (OR 0.89, 95% confidence interval 0.75-1.06). People with AD/ADRD experiencing severe chronic pain were not more likely to receive an opioid compared to the NCI group. Adjusted predicted counts of opioid prescriptions showed more opioids in CI and AD/ADRD in all chronic pain cohorts, with the largest numbers of opioid prescriptions in the severe chronic pain and ICD 9/10 diagnoses groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest increased opioid use in people living with CI and AD/ADRD in the ambulatory care setting and potentially indicate that these individuals either require more analgesics or that opioids may be overprescribed. Further research is needed to examine pain management in this vulnerable population.

BackgroundPharmacist-led programs and clinics have been integrated into primary and specialty care clinics in a variety of ways, for example, to improve diabetes outcomes via patient education and counseling. However, factors important to the implementation of different outpatient pharmacy models have not been well elucidated.ObjectiveTo identify provider- and health system-level drivers of implementation and sustainability of pharmacy-led programs in the outpatient setting.DesignQualitative study of key informants using semi-structured interviews of individuals working in various roles throughout a large health system, including ambulatory clinical pharmacists, pharmacy managers, medical directors and physician leaders, and operations and quality managers.ParticipantsKey informants (n=19) with leadership roles in pharmacy programs and front-line experience providing integrated pharmacy care were selected purposively and with snowball sampling.ApproachWe coded the interviews using a codebook derived from the 2022 Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), which details various internal and external factors important for implementation.Key resultsWe identified the following themes related to implementing ambulatory care pharmacy programs: (1) pharmacy programs varied in their level of embeddedness in the outpatient clinic, (2) establishing pharmacy program required leadership advocacy and coordination among stakeholders, (3) continued operations required integrated workflows and demonstrated value to the health system and clinicians, and (4) established revenue streams or added indirect value and continued improvement of integration sustained programs over time.ConclusionsExternal policies and incentives such as new reimbursement codes and quality measurement programs that rely on pharmacy input play a significant role in shaping the design, implementation, and sustainability of health system outpatient pharmacy programs. Ensuring that quality metrics used in value-based contracts or programs demonstrate pharmacy benefits will be critical to supporting and growing pharmacy programs.

BACKGROUND: Mobile medical clinics have been used for decades to provide primary and preventive care to underserved populations. While several studies have examined their return on investment and impact on chronic disease management outcomes in the Mid-Atlantic and East Coast regions of the United States, little is known about the characteristics and clinical outcomes of adults who receive care aboard mobile clinics on the West Coast region. Guided by the Anderson Behavioral Model, this study describes the predisposing, enabling, and need factors associated with mobile medical clinic use among mobile medical clinic patients in Southern California and examines the relationship between mobile clinic utilization and presence and control of diabetes and hypertension. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 411 adults who received care in four mobile clinic locations in Southern California from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2019. Data were collected from patient charts on predisposing (e.g., sex, race, age), enabling (e.g., insurance and housing status), and need (e.g., chronic illness) factors based on Andersens Behavioral Model. Zero-truncated negative binomial regression was used to examine the association of chronic illness (hypertension and diabetes) with number of clinic visits, accounting for potential confounding factors. RESULTS: Over the course of the 2-year study period, 411 patients made 1790 visits to the mobile medical clinic. The majority of patients were female (68%), Hispanic (78%), married (47%), with a mean age of 50 (SD = 11). Forty-four percent had hypertension and 29% had diabetes. Frequency of mobile clinic utilization was significantly associated with chronic illness. Patients with hypertension and diabetes had 1.22 and 1.61 times the rate of mobile medical clinic visit than those without those conditions, respectively (IRR = 1.61, 95% CI, 1.36-1.92; 1.22, 95% CI, 1.02-1.45). CONCLUSIONS: Mobile clinics serve as an important system of health care delivery, especially for adults with uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension.

Background Cardiovascular disease, mainly atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, is the first cause of death for urban and rural residents in China. Low density lipoprotein cholesterol is the pathogenic risk factor of ASCVD. Objective By establishing a new outpatient model for blood lipid management, to analyze the awareness rate of abnormal blood lipids in patients before and after the establishment of the new model, the proportion of rational drug use, patient compliance, and medication compliance rate. Methods From September 1, 2023 to February 28, 2024, has established a comprehensive outpatient model for managing blood lipid abnormalities based on scientific research projects by integrating medical resources. The model takes the outpatient service of "patients with dyslipidemia" as the carrier, and collaborates with specialized doctors and general practitioners to standardize the management of dyslipidemia patients, optimize the consultation and follow-up process, effectively screen the population with dyslipidemia, diagnose hyperlipidemia patients, and provide correct treatment methods. Results The model of patients with dyslipidemia included in the management of chronic diseases has shifted from a dispersed model to a comprehensive, standardized, and centralized management of lipid management outpatient services, and the number of patients managed has significantly increased compared to before. The proportion of standardized medication for first-time patients in our blood lipid management outpatient department has increased from 25.3% (147/580) to 30.3% (242/798), the proportion of adherence to medication has increased from 32.7% (190/580) to 41.6% (332/798), and the compliance rate of medication has increased from 15.8% (92/580) to 22.5% (180/798) (P

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects approximately 14% of adults in the United States and is present in at least 10% of the population worldwide. Blood glucose and blood pressure control are imperative to adequately manage CKD as they are the only primary prevention measures for the condition. Recent changes in CKD evaluation and medication therapies that modify disease progression and aid in managing complications such as anemia of CKD have emerged, including a newly approved mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist and hypoxia-inducible factor–prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor, respectively. This focused update on CKD evaluation and management will review the most recent evidence and approved agents to support patients with CKD, including a review of glomerular filtration rate measurement methods such as CKD-EPI 2021 and utilization of cystatin C, Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines, American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines, and primary literature supporting the use of newer agents in CKD. Checklists for managing blood pressure and blood glucose, CKD-mineral bone disorder, and anemia of CKD targeted for pharmacists are also provided. Additionally, a discussion of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) coverage of agents approved for managing complications of CKD is included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent clinical trials and guideline updates have highlighted the efficacy and safety of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) use in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and comorbidities including atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), or heart failure (HF). Objective: This study assesses the rates of guideline-based prescribing of SGLT2i in patients with T2D and one or more of the following comorbidities: ASCVD, CKD, or HF, prior to and after the 2022 American Diabetes Association (ADA) guideline publication within the Atrius Health clinical pharmacy, internal medicine, and specialty medicine departments. Methods: This is a retrospective chart review of data from the electronic medical record. Patients with the aforementioned criteria were included if they were managed by either the clinical pharmacy department, internal medicine, or specialty medicine departments. Patients were excluded if they did not have any of the comorbidities listed or a form of diabetes other than T2D. Results: Of the 10,631 patients enrolled, 354 (3.3%) were initiated on an SGLT2i during the study. The average number of SGLT2i initiations prior to the 2022 ADA guideline publication was five prescription starts per week. After the guideline publication initiation increased to seven prescription starts per week. Secondary outcomes showed the majority of SGLT2i prescriptions were started in the internal medicine department, followed by cardiology and nephrology. Conclusion: Overall utilization rates of SGLT2i are low but increased after the 2022 ADA guidelines were published. These results suggest opportunities to optimize the use of SGLT2i in this patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Tuberculosis (TB) infectiousness decreases significantly with only a few days of treatment, but delayed diagnosis often leads to late treatment initiation. We conducted a sequential explanatory mixed methods study to understand the barriers and facilitators to prompt diagnosis among people with TB. Methods We enrolled 100 adults who started TB treatment in the Carabayllo district of Lima, Peru, between November 2020 and February 2022 and administered a survey about their symptoms and healthcare encounters. We calculated total diagnostic delay as time from symptom onset to diagnosis. We conducted semi-structured interviews of 26 participants who had a range of delays investigating their experience navigating the health system. Interview transcripts were inductively coded for concepts related to diagnostic barriers and facilitators. Results Overall, 38% of participants sought care first from public facilities and 42% from the private sector. Only 14% reported being diagnosed with TB on their first visit, and participants visited a median of 3 (interquartile range [IQR] health facilities before diagnosis. The median total diagnostic delay was 9 weeks (interquartile range [IQR] 4–22), with a median of 4 weeks (IQR 0–9) before contact with the health system and of 3 weeks (IQR 0–9) after. Barriers to prompt diagnosis included participants attributing their symptoms to an alternative cause or having misconceptions about TB, and leading them to postpone seeking care. Once connected to care, variations in clinical management, health facility resource limitations, and lack of formal referral processes contributed to the need for multiple healthcare visits before obtaining a diagnosis. Facilitators to prompt diagnosis included knowing someone with TB, supportive friends and family, referral documents, and seeing a pulmonologist. Conclusions Misinformation about TB among people with TB and providers, poor accessibility of health services, and the need for multiple encounters to obtain diagnostic tests were major factors leading to delays. Extending the hours of operation of public health facilities, improving community awareness and provider training, and creating a formal referral process between the public and private sectors should be priorities in the efforts to combat TB.

Purpose: Patient experience is a key aspect of care quality. The Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Clinician and Group (CG-CAHPS®) survey measures experiences with ambulatory care providers to inform public reporting, pay-for-performance initiatives, interventions, patient choice of physicians/practices, and quality improvement. Since the survey’s 2007 release, no systematic review of its use in research has been published. Methods: We reviewed English-language, peer-reviewed articles published since 2008 using CG-CAHPS survey data in the U.S. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and used the Checklist for Analytical Cross-Sectional Studies. Results: We examined 126 articles and included 52. Twenty-seven articles focused on general primary care, and the others focused on ambulatory specialty care. Of the 52 studies, 37 were cross-sectional, and the majority conducted patient-level regression analysis, controlling for patient characteristics. The most-used CAHPS measures were overall provider rating and the provider communication composite. CG-CAHPS data were primarily utilized to evaluate interventions (24 studies) and examine cross-sectional associations (21 studies) of site-level (eg, organizational climate), provider-level (physician empathy), and patient-level (medication adherence) factors with patient experience. Four studies reported disparities in patient experience. Conclusions: The widespread use of CG-CAHPS data implies the survey’s value in measuring and improving care quality. Unlike facility or plan surveys, the CG-CAHPS survey was designed to allow attribution to medical groups and clinicians, which, as evidence shows, is its main strength. Policymakers, researchers, clinicians, and health care leaders can leverage CG-CAHPS data in quality improvement efforts and interventions supporting patient-centered care.

Objective To investigate the effect of blood pressure telemonitoring management mode, blood pressure self-monitoring management mode, and outpatient blood pressure management mode on the level of blood pressure and the rate of reaching the standard for blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension. Methods A total of 441 patients with essential hypertension were recruited and randomly divided into telemonitoring group with 156 patients, non-telemonitoring group with 144 patients, and conventional group with 141 patients. The patients in the telemonitoring group and the non-telemonitoring group were provided with the same model of intelligent electronic blood pressure monitor, and they were managed in accordance with the telemonitoring management mode and the self-monitoring management mode, respectively. The patients in the conventional group received blood pressure management according to the outpatient blood pressure management mode and were asked to go to the community clinic regularly to have their blood pressure measured by a physician. Related data were recorded before management and after 6 months of management, including office blood pressure, the rate of reaching the standard for blood pressure, medication, body mass index, waist circumference, and lifestyle. Results After 6 months of management, all three groups had significant reductions in systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure (t=5.611-14.434,P0.05). There was no significant difference in the improvement of life style between the three groups before ma-nagement and after 6 months of management (P>0.05). Conclusion Compared with blood pressure self-monitoring management mode and outpatient blood pressure management mode, blood pressure telemonitoring management mode can better manage blood pressure, improve the rate of reaching the standard for blood pressure, and increase the proportion of patients with combined medication.

Abstract Background The management of inappropriate medication use in older patients suffering from multimorbidity and polymedication is a major healthcare challenge. In a primary care setting, a medication review is an effective tool through which a pharmacist can collaborate with a practitioner to detect inappropriate drug use. Aim This project described the implementation of a systematic process for the management of potentially inappropriate medication use among Lebanese older adults. Its aim was to involve pharmacists in geriatric care and to suggest treatment optimization through the analysis of prescriptions using explicit and implicit criteria. Method This study evaluated the medications of patients over 65 years taking a minimum of five chronic medications a day in different regions of Lebanon. Descriptive statistics for all the included variables using mean and standard deviation (Mean (SD)) for continuous variables and frequency and percentage (n, (%)) for multinomial variables were then performed. Results A total of 850 patients (50.7% women, 28.6% frail, 75.7 (8.01) mean age (SD)) were included in this study. The mean number of drugs per prescription was 7.10 (2.45). Roughly 88% of patients (n = 748) had at least one potentially inappropriate drug prescription: 66.4% and 64.4% of the patients had at least 1 drug with an unfavorable benefit-to-risk ratio according to Beers and EU(7)-PIM respectively. Nearly 50.4% of patients took at least one medication with no indication. The pharmacists recommended discontinuing medication for 76.5% of the cases of drug related problems. 26.6% of the overall proposed interventions were implemented. Discussion The rate of potentially inappropriate drug prescribing (PIDP) (88%) was higher than the rates previously reported in Europe, US, and Canada. It was also higher than studies conducted in Lebanon where it varied from 22.4 to 80% depending on the explicit criteria used, the settings, and the medical conditions of the patients. We used both implicit and explicit criteria with five different lists to improve the detection of all types of inappropriate medication use since Lebanon obtains drugs from many different sources. Another potential source for variation is the lack of a standardized process for the assessment of outpatient medication use in the elderly. Conclusion The prevalence PIDP detected in the sample was higher than the percentages reported in previous literature. Systematic review of prescriptions has the capacity to identify and resolve pharmaceutical care issues thus improving geriatric care.

Background In outpatient clinics, physicians serve as the primary providers of medical treatment activities; their positive attitudes and effective patient-physician communication methods are essential for guaranteeing high-quality healthcare services. Objective To compare the outpatient doctor's emotional state and completion of communication details between outpatient doctor's experiential communication and GLTC communication. To provide a reference for improving a doctor's communication skills and emotional state in the future. Methods From July 2021 to January 2022, 24 outpatient doctors from 6 departments in 4 tertiary general hospitals in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province were randomly selected as the research objects. Outpatient doctor-patient communication scenes meeting the criteria were selected as observation scenes. All of the included outpatient doctors in the same cohort underwent an individual experiential communication program first (recorded as the experiential group). Next, they received training on the outpatient GLTC doctor-patient communication program. Finally, the doctors conducted outpatient GLTC communication one week later (recorded as the GLTC group). The experiential group and the GLTC group were compared in terms of the Brief Profile of Mood States (BPOMS) score before and after communication as well as the completion rate of communication details. Results The fatigue dimension score of BPOMS after communication was higher than that before communication in the experiential group (P

Background: Diabetes is a multifactorial disease state that requires adequate patient monitoring for improved health outcomes. Diabetes knowledge and attitude, and associated factors such as medication adherence, medication discrepancy, health literacy, and glycemic control were evaluated in this study. The selected factors were also compared with diabetes knowledge and attitude. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among ambulatory diabetes patients in three tertiary healthcare facilities in Nigeria. An interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire was utilized for data collection. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics with the level of significance set at p < 0.05. Results: A total of 188 diabetes patients participated in the study; 51 (27.1%) at the Federal Medical Center, Abeokuta, 69 (36.7%) at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, and 68 (36.2%) at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin. One hundred and twelve (59.6%) female patients participated in the study and patients' average age was 58.69 ± 13.68 years. Medication discrepancy was observed among 101 (53.7%) patients. One hundred and three (54.8%), 47 (25.0%) and 38 (20.2%) had high, medium, and low medication adherence, respectively. Ninety-one (48.4%) had high health literacy. Mean diabetes knowledge score was 14.64 ± 2.55 points out of a maximum obtainable score of 18 points. Mean diabetes attitude of patients was 62.50 ± 6.86 points out of a maximum obtainable score of 70 points. Significant positive association was observed between diabetes knowledge and health literacy (Beta = 0.021, p = 0.029). Diabetes knowledge was higher in patients with higher level of formal education (p = 0.046), higher diabetes attitude (p < 0.001) and high health literacy (p = 0.002). Patients' diabetes attitude was higher in individuals older than 60 years of age (p = 0.029), and those with high health literacy (p = 0.005). Conclusions: The diabetes patients displayed good disease knowledge, attitude and medication adherence. Average levels of health literacy and medication discrepancy was observed among the patients. Significant differences were observed between patients' diabetes knowledge and level of formal education, diabetes attitude, health literacy and age. Patients' health literacy was significantly associated with diabetes knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) infectiousness decreases significantly with only a few days of treatment, but delayed diagnosis often leads to late treatment initiation. We conducted a sequential explanatory mixed methods study to understand the barriers and facilitators to prompt diagnosis among people with TB. Methods: We enrolled 100 adults who started TB treatment in the Carabayllo district of Lima, Peru, between November 2020 and February 2022 and administered a survey about their symptoms and healthcare encounters. We calculated total diagnostic delay as time from symptom onset to diagnosis. We conducted semi-structured interviews of 26 participants who had a range of delays investigating their experience navigating the health system. Interview transcripts were inductively coded for concepts related to diagnostic barriers and facilitators. Results: Overall, 38% of participants sought care first from public facilities and 42% from the private sector. Only 14% reported being diagnosed with TB on their first visit, and participants visited a median of 3 (interquartile range [IQR] health facilities before diagnosis. The median total diagnostic delay was 9 weeks (interquartile range [IQR] 4–22), with a median of 4 weeks (IQR 0–9) before contact with the health system and of 3 weeks (IQR 0–9) after. Barriers to prompt diagnosis included participants attributing their symptoms to an alternative cause or having misconceptions about TB, and leading them to postpone seeking care. Once connected to care, variations in clinical management, health facility resource limitations, and lack of formal referral processes contributed to the need for multiple healthcare visits before obtaining a diagnosis. Facilitators to prompt diagnosis included knowing someone with TB, supportive friends and family, referral documents, and seeing a pulmonologist. Conclusions: Misinformation about TB among people with TB and providers, poor accessibility of health services, and the need for multiple encounters to obtain diagnostic tests were major factors leading to delays. Extending the hours of operation of public health facilities, improving community awareness and provider training, and creating a formal referral process between the public and private sectors should be priorities in the efforts to combat TB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: For persons with diabetes, incidence of dementia has been associated with increased hospitalization; however, little is known about healthcare use preceding and following incident dementia. We describe healthcare utilization in the 3 years pre‐ and post‐incident dementia among older adults with diabetes. Methods: We used the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) linked to Medicare fee‐for‐service claims from 2011 to 2018. We included community‐dwelling adults ≥65 years who had diabetes without dementia. We matched older adults with dementia (identified with validated NHATS algorithm) at the year of incident dementia to controls using coarsened exact matching. We examined annual outpatient visits, emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalization, and post‐acute skilled nursing facility (SNF) use 3 years preceding and 3 years following dementia onset. Results: We included 195 older adults with diabetes with incident dementia and 1107 controls. Groups had a similar age (81.6 vs 81.7 years) and were 56.4% female. Persons with dementia were more likely to be of minority racial and ethnic groups (26.7% vs 21.3% Black, non‐Hispanic, 15.3% vs 6.7% other race or Hispanic). We observed a larger decrease in outpatient visits among persons with dementia, primarily due to decreasing specialty visits (mean outpatient visits: 3 years pre‐dementia/matching 6.8 (SD 2.6) dementia vs 6.4 (SD 2.6) controls, p < 0.01 to 3 years post‐dementia/matching 4.6 (SD 2.3) dementia vs 5.5 (SD 2.7) controls, p < 0.01). Hospitalization, ED visits, and post‐acute SNF use were higher for persons with dementia and rose in both groups (e.g., ED visits 3 years pre‐dementia/matching 3.9 (SD 5.4) dementia vs 2.2 (SD 4.8) controls, p < 0.001; 3 years post‐dementia/matching 4.5 (SD 4.7) dementia vs 3.5 (SD 6.1) controls, p = 0.04). Conclusions: Older adults with diabetes with incident dementia have higher rates of acute and post‐acute care use, but decreasing outpatient use over time, primarily due to a decrease in specialty visits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We sought within an ambulatory safety study to understand if the Revised Safer Dx instrument may be helpful in identification of diagnostic missed opportunities in care of children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We reviewed two months of emergency department (ED) encounters for all patients at our tertiary care site with T1D and a sample of such encounters for patients with ASD over a 15-month period, and their pre-visit communication methods to better understand opportunities to improve diagnosis. We applied the Revised Safer Dx instrument to each diagnostic journey. We chose potentially preventable ED visits for hyperglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis, and behavioral crises, and reviewed electronic health record data over the prior three months related to the illness that resulted in the ED visit. We identified 63 T1D and 27 ASD ED visits. Using the Revised Safer Dx instrument, we did not identify any potentially missed opportunities to improve diagnosis in T1D. We found two potential missed opportunities (Safer Dx overall score of 5) in ASD, related to potential for ambulatory medical management to be improved. Over this period, 40 % of T1D and 52 % of ASD patients used communication prior to the ED visit. Using the Revised Safer Dx instrument, we uncommonly identified missed opportunities to improve diagnosis in patients who presented to the ED with potentially preventable complications of their chronic diseases. Future researchers should consider prospectively collected data as well as development or adaptation of tools like the Safer Dx. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the resident pharmacist's participation in Shared Medical Appointments (SMA) in palliative care. Methods: The resident pharmacist participated in face-to-face SMA with the attending physician, medical and gerontology students, and a nurse. Key findings: The resident pharmacist supported interdisciplinary discussions and performed pharmaceutical interventions. He helped raise awareness about the effective, safe, and convenient use of medicines, helping improve the quality of life of patients and caregivers. Conclusions: Providing pharmaceutical care to patients in palliative care helped to improve the quality of clinical services offered to these patients, as well as adding value to resident pharmacists' interprofessional practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We aimed to (1) describe telemedicine utilization and usability during the first 6 weeks of the pandemic and (2) determine if usability varied by individual- or visit-level characteristics. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of ambulatory pediatric telemedicine visits occurring between March 10, 2020, and April 18, 2020, across a large academic health system. We performed manual chart review to assess individual- and visit-level characteristics and invited caregivers to respond to an adapted Telehealth Usability Questionnaire (TUQ). We used multiple logistic regression to determine predictors of high usability. Results: There were 3,197 ambulatory pediatric telemedicine visits, representing 2,967 unique patients. Patients were racially/ethnically diverse (42.5% non-Hispanic White) and primarily English-speaking (89.2%). Surveys were completed by 441 (17%) of those invited. Every item of the TUQ had agreement or strong agreement from the majority of respondents. Compared with non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Asian identity was associated with lower usability in three domains and overall, and non-Hispanic Black identity was associated with higher satisfaction and future use. As compared with caregivers of infants younger than 1 year, caregivers of older patients reported lower usability in the three domains. Conclusions: Telemedicine was successfully implemented across 18 ambulatory pediatric specialties in the largest health system in New York State at the onset of COVID-19, and caregivers found it usable and acceptable. Usability scores did not vary by visit-level characteristics but did vary by race/ethnicity and age. Further research is necessary to identify modifiable drivers of the patient experience, particularly in non-Hispanic Asian communities and older adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]