ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Current data shows 30% of patients hospitalized for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) exacerbation are readmitted within 30 days. Medication management during transitions of care (TOC) has shown impact on clinical outcomes, however there is insufficient data to suggest how pharmacy TOC services might benefit this patient population. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the effects of pharmacy-driven COPD TOC services on hospital re-presentation rates. METHODS: A single-center retrospective chart review conducted of patients hospitalized for a COPD exacerbation. A comprehensive admission-to-discharge TOC service was provided by early immersion pharmacy students, advanced immersion pharmacy students, and an attending pharmacist in a layered learning model. The primary outcome was 30-day re-presentation rate. Secondary outcomes were 90-day re-presentation rate, volume of interventions made and description of the service. RESULTS: From 1/1/2019 to 12/31/2019, there were 2422 patients admitted for COPD exacerbation management and 756 patients received at least one intervention from the COPD TOC service. 30% needed a change to inhaler therapy. The provider accepted 57.8% of the recommended changes, and 36% and 33% of eligible patients received an inhaler technique education and bedside delivery of the new inhaler, respectively. Outcomes in the 30-day re-presentation and 90-day censored re-presentation rates for the intervention and control group were 28.5% vs 25.5% (P = .12) and 46.7% vs 42.9%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study did not find a significant change in 30-day re-presentation rate with a pharmacy-driven COPD TOC service. It did find that a significant number of patients admitted with COPD exacerbation may need an inhaler change, and demonstrates the utility of this kind of TOC service for identifying and correcting medication-related problems unique to this disease state. There were opportunities for improvement in percent of patients receiving the full intended intervention.
ABSTRACT
Background: While the benefits of bundled transitions of care services are understood, only a limited number of studies have analyzed the impact of a stand-alone bedside medication delivery service on repeat hospital encounters, and those published have reported mixed results. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted in medical and surgical patients at a large community hospital. Adult patients discharged from either the cardiology, medicine, pulmonary, orthopedic/spine surgery, or women's surgery unit and prescribed at least one new prescription upon discharge to home between September 2015 and March 2018 were included. The primary objective was to compare unplanned 30-day re-presentation rates in patients who received Meds to Beds services to those who did not. The secondary objective was to compare 30-day re-presentation rates by patient type. Re-presentation was defined as an inpatient admission, emergency department visit, or observational encounter for any diagnosis within the six-hospital health system. Chi-square and logistic regression tests were used to assess statistical significance, and the study was powered to detect a difference in the primary objective. Results: A total of 45,546 patients were included. Of those, 4,286 received Meds to Beds services (Intervention Group, IG) while 41,260 patients did not (Control Group, CG). Overall 30-day re-presentation rate was not statistically different (15% IG versus 15.3% CG, OR 1.0; 95% CI 0.9-1.1; p = 0.76). However, the 30-day re-presentation rate was statistically lower for women's surgery (12.8% IG versus 15.6%, CG p = 0.03, NNT 36) and orthopedics/spine surgery patients (7.3% IG versus 10.2% CG, p < 0.01, NNT 34). Conclusions: While there was no statistically significant differences in overall 30-day re-presentation rates, there were significant reductions in two surgical patient subgroups. Avoidance of re-presentations and generation of prescription revenue outweighed program costs.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Medication management during transitions of care (TOC) impacts clinical outcomes. Published literature on TOC implementation is increasing, but data remains limited regarding the optimal role for the inpatient pharmacist, particularly in the community health setting. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of a dedicated inpatient TOC pharmacist on re-presentations following discharge. METHODS: This is a prospective study with historical control. All adult patients discharging home from study units were eligible. The TOC pharmacist (1) reviewed medication history and admission reconciliation, (2) met the patient/caregiver to assess barriers, (3) reviewed discharge reconciliation, (4) performed discharge education, and (5) communicated with next level of care. The primary outcome was 30 day re-presentation rate. Secondary outcomes included 60, 90, and 365 day re-presentation rates. IRB approval was obtained. RESULTS: Three hundred and eighty four patients met inclusion criteria. When compared to 1,221 control patients, the intervention had an 11% absolute and 50.2% relative reduction in 30 day re-presentation rate (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.30-0.61, NNT 9). Reductions in re-presentations at 60, 90 and 365 days remained statistically significant. Utilization avoidance was $786,347. For every $1 invested in pharmacist time, $12 was saved. The TOC pharmacist made a total of 904 interventions (mean 2.4 per patient). CONCLUSION: This study provides new information from previous studies and represents the largest study with significant and sustained reductions in re-presentations. Integrating a pharmacist into an interdisciplinary team for medication management during TOC in a community health system is beneficial for patients and financially favorable for the institution.
