A chromosome-level genome assembly for the dugong (Dugong dugon).

The dugong (Dugong dugon) is a marine mammal widely distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific and the Red Sea, with a Vulnerable conservation status, and little is known about many of the more peripheral populations, some of which are thought to be close to extinction. We present a de novo high-quality genome assembly for the dugong from an individual belonging to the well-monitored Moreton Bay population in Queensland, Australia. Our assembly uses long-read PacBio HiFi sequencing and Omni-C data following the Vertebrate Genome Project pipeline to reach chromosome-level contiguity (24 chromosome-level scaffolds; 3.16 Gbp) and high completeness (97.9% complete BUSCOs). We observed relatively high genome-wide heterozygosity, which likely reflects historical population abundance before the last interglacial period, approximately 125,000 yr ago. Demographic inference suggests that dugong populations began declining as sea levels fell after the last interglacial period, likely a result of population fragmentation and habitat loss due to the exposure of seagrass meadows. We find no evidence for ongoing recent inbreeding in this individual. However, runs of homozygosity indicate some past inbreeding. Our draft genome assembly will enable range-wide assessments of genetic diversity and adaptation, facilitate effective management of dugong populations, and allow comparative genomics analyses including with other sirenians, the oldest marine mammal lineage.

Quantification by droplet digital PCR and species identification by metabarcoding of environmental (e)DNA from Blainville's beaked whales, with assisted localization from an acoustic array.

Detection and identification of species, subspecies or stocks of whales, dolphins and porpoises at sea remain challenging, particularly for cryptic or elusive species like beaked whales (Family: Ziphiidae). Here we investigated the potential for using an acoustically assisted sampling design to collect environmental (e)DNA from beaked whales on the U.S. Navy's Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) in The Bahamas. During 12 days of August 2019, we conducted 9 small-boat surveys and collected 56 samples of seawater (paired subsamples of 1L each, including controls) using both a spatial collection design in the absence of visual confirmation of whales, and a serial collection design in the proximity of whales at the surface. There were 7 sightings of whales, including 11 Blainville's beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris). All whales were located initially with the assistance of information from a bottom-mounted acoustic array available on the AUTEC range. Quantification by droplet digital (dd)PCR from the four spatial design collections showed no samples of eDNA above the threshold of detection and none of these 20 samples yielded amplicons for conventional or next-generation sequencing. Quantification of the 31 samples from four serial collections identified 11 likely positive detections. eDNA barcoding by conventional sequencing and eDNA metabarcoding by next-generation sequencing confirmed species identification for 9 samples from three of the four serial collections. We further resolved five intra-specific variants (i.e., haplotypes), two of which showed an exact match to previously published haplotypes and three that have not been reported previously to the international repository, GenBank. A minimum spanning network of the five eDNA haplotypes, with all other published haplotypes of Blainville's beaked whales, suggested the potential for further resolution of differences between oceanic populations.

A Randomized Trial of a Multifactorial Strategy to Prevent Serious Fall Injuries.

BACKGROUND: Injuries from falls are major contributors to complications and death in older adults. Despite evidence from efficacy trials that many falls can be prevented, rates of falls resulting in injury have not declined. METHODS: We conducted a pragmatic, cluster-randomized trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a multifactorial intervention that included risk assessment and individualized plans, administered by specially trained nurses, to prevent fall injuries. A total of 86 primary care practices across 10 health care systems were randomly assigned to the intervention or to enhanced usual care (the control) (43 practices each). The participants were community-dwelling adults, 70 years of age or older, who were at increased risk for fall injuries. The primary outcome, assessed in a time-to-event analysis, was the first serious fall injury, adjudicated with the use of participant report, electronic health records, and claims data. We hypothesized that the event rate would be lower by 20% in the intervention group than in the control group. RESULTS: The demographic and baseline characteristics of the participants were similar in the intervention group (2802 participants) and the control group (2649 participants); the mean age was 80 years, and 62.0% of the participants were women. The rate of a first adjudicated serious fall injury did not differ significantly between the groups, as assessed in a time-to-first-event analysis (events per 100 person-years of follow-up, 4.9 in the intervention group and 5.3 in the control group; hazard ratio, 0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80 to 1.06; P = 0.25). The rate of a first participant-reported fall injury was 25.6 events per 100 person-years of follow-up in the intervention group and 28.6 events per 100 person-years of follow-up in the control group (hazard ratio, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.83 to 0.99; P = 0.004). The rates of hospitalization or death were similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: A multifactorial intervention, administered by nurses, did not result in a significantly lower rate of a first adjudicated serious fall injury than enhanced usual care. (Funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute and others; STRIDE ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02475850.).

Intervention to Prevent Falls: Community-Based Clinics.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to document results of State funded fall prevention clinics on rates of self-reported falls and fall-related use of health services. METHODS: Older adults participated in community-based fall prevention clinics providing individual assessments, interventions, and referrals to collaborating community providers. A pre-post design compares self-reported 6-month fall history and fall-related use of health care before and after clinic attendance. RESULTS: Participants ( N = 751) were predominantly female (82%) averaging 81 years of age reporting vision (75%) and mobility (57%) difficulties. Assessments revealed polypharmacy (54%), moderate- to high-risk mobility issues (39%), and postural hypotension (10%). Self-reported preclinic fall rates were 256/751(34%) and postclinic rates were 81/751 (10.8%), ( p = .0001). Reported use of fall-related health services, including hospitalization, was also significantly lower after intervention. IMPLICATIONS: Evidence-based assessments, risk-reducing recommendations, and referrals that include convenient exercise opportunities may reduce falls and utilization of health care services. Estimates regarding health care spending and policy are presented.

Strategies to Reduce Injuries and Develop Confidence in Elders (STRIDE): A Cluster-Randomized Pragmatic Trial of a Multifactorial Fall Injury Prevention Strategy: Design and Methods.

Background: Fall injuries are a major cause of morbidity and mortality among older adults. We describe the design of a pragmatic trial to compare the effectiveness of an evidence-based, patient-centered multifactorial fall injury prevention strategy to an enhanced usual care. Methods: Strategies to Reduce Injuries and Develop Confidence in Elders (STRIDE) is a 40-month cluster-randomized, parallel-group, superiority, pragmatic trial being conducted at 86 primary care practices in 10 health care systems across United States. The 86 practices were randomized to intervention or control group using covariate-based constrained randomization, stratified by health care system. Participants are community-living persons, ≥70 years, at increased risk for serious fall injuries. The intervention is a comanagement model in which a nurse Falls Care Manager performs multifactorial risk assessments, develops individualized care plans, which include surveillance, follow-up evaluation, and intervention strategies. Control group receives enhanced usual care, with clinicians and patients receiving evidence-based information on falls prevention. Primary outcome is serious fall injuries, operationalized as those leading to medical attention (nonvertebral fractures, joint dislocation, head injury, lacerations, and other major sequelae). Secondary outcomes include all fall injuries, all falls, and well-being (concern for falling; anxiety and depressive symptoms; physical function and disability). Target sample size was 5,322 participants to provide 90% power to detect 20% reduction in primary outcome rate relative to control. Results: Trial enrolled 5,451 subjects in 20 months. Intervention and follow-up are ongoing. Conclusions: The findings of the STRIDE study will have important clinical and policy implications for the prevention of fall injuries in older adults.

The Strategies to Reduce Injuries and Develop Confidence in Elders Intervention: Falls Risk Factor Assessment and Management, Patient Engagement, and Nurse Co-management.

In response to the epidemic of falls and serious falls-related injuries in older persons, in 2014, the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) and the National Institute on Aging funded a pragmatic trial, Strategies to Reduce Injuries and Develop confidence in Elders (STRIDE) to compare the effects of a multifactorial intervention with those of an enhanced usual care intervention. The STRIDE multifactorial intervention consists of five major components that registered nurses deliver in the role of falls care managers, co-managing fall risk in partnership with patients and their primary care providers (PCPs). The components include a standardized assessment of eight modifiable risk factors (medications; postural hypotension; feet and footwear; vision; vitamin D; osteoporosis; home safety; strength, gait, and balance impairment) and the use of protocols and algorithms to generate recommended management of risk factors; explanation of assessment results to the patient (and caregiver when appropriate) using basic motivational interviewing techniques to elicit patient priorities, preferences, and readiness to participate in treatments; co-creation of individualized falls care plans that patients' PCPs review, modify, and approve; implementation of the falls care plan; and ongoing monitoring of response, regularly scheduled re-assessments of fall risk, and revisions of the falls care plan. Custom-designed falls care management software facilitates risk factor assessment, the identification of recommended interventions, clinic note generation, and longitudinal care management. The trial testing the effectiveness of the STRIDE intervention is in progress, with results expected in late 2019.

A cluster-randomized controlled trial of a multicomponent intervention protocol for pneumonia prevention among nursing home elders.

BACKGROUND: Pneumonia remains an important public health problem among elderly nursing home residents. This clinical trial sought to determine if a multicomponent intervention protocol, including manual tooth/gum brushing plus 0.12% chlorhexidine oral rinse, twice per day, plus upright positioning during feeding, could reduce the incidence of radiographically documented pneumonia among nursing home residents, compared with usual care. METHODS: This cluster-randomized clinical trial was conducted in 36 nursing homes in Connecticut. Eligible residents >65 years with at least 1 of 2 modifiable risk factors for pneumonia (ie, impaired oral hygiene, swallowing difficulty) were enrolled. Nursing homes were randomized to the multicomponent intervention protocol or usual care. Participants were followed for up to 2.5 years for development of the primary outcome, a radiographically documented pneumonia, and secondary outcome, a lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) without radiographic documentation. RESULTS: A total of 834 participants were enrolled: 434 to intervention and 400 to usual care. The trial was terminated for futility. The number of participants in the intervention vs control arms with first pneumonia was 119 (27.4%) vs 94 (23.5%), respectively, and with first LRTI, 125 (28.8%) vs 100 (25.0%), respectively. In a multivariable Cox regression model, the hazard ratio in the intervention vs control arms, respectively, was 1.12 (95% confidence interval [CI], .84-1.50; P = .44) for first pneumonia and 1.07 (95% CI, .79-1.46, P = .65) for first LRTI. CONCLUSIONS: The multicomponent intervention protocol did not significantly reduce the incidence of first radiographically confirmed pneumonia or LRTI compared with usual care in nursing home residents. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT00975780.

Trends in Fall-Related Traumatic Brain Injury among Older Persons in Connecticut from 2000-2007.

BACKGROUND: Anecdotal evidence suggests a rising trend in the occurrence of fall-related traumatic brain injuries (FR-TBI) among persons ≥ 70 years. To document this apparent trend on a more substantive basis, this report longitudinally describes overall and age-stratified rates of three outcomes attributed to FR-TBI among persons ≥ 70 years: emergency department visits (ED), hospitalizations, and terminal hospitalizations. METHODS: Eight years (2000-2007) of observational data from emergency departments and acute care hospitals serving a non-randomly selected, densely populated region in southern Connecticut, U.S. RESULTS: From 2000-2007 among persons 70 years and older, overall rates of FR-TBI visits to emergency departments more than doubled while corresponding rates of hospitalization and terminal hospitalization rose 58% each. The point estimate of growth in the rate of ED in the oldest stratum was nearly triple that of the younger stratum whereas point estimates of growth in rates of hospitalization and terminal hospitalization were nearly four times higher. Total Medicare costs for ED visits increased nearly four-fold while corresponding costs for hospitalizations and terminal hospitalizations rose by 64% and 76%. The most common discharge diagnoses for ED and hospitalization were unspecified head injury and intracranial hemorrhage. CONCLUSIONS: The rapid rise in rates of FR-TBI and associated Medicare costs underscore the urgent need to prevent this burgeoning source of human suffering and health care utilization. We believe the rise in rates is at least partially due to a greater public awareness of the outcome that has been facilitated by increasing use of diagnostic imaging in the ED and hospital.

Association between treatment or usual care region and hospitalization for fall-related traumatic brain injury in the Connecticut Collaboration for Fall Prevention.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between the treatment region (TR) or usual care region (UCR) of the Connecticut Collaboration for Fall Prevention (CCFP), a clinical intervention for prevention of falls, and the rate of hospitalization for fall-related traumatic brain injury (FR-TBI) in persons aged 70 and older and to describe the Medicare charges for FR-TBI hospitalizations. DESIGN: Using a quasi-experimental design, rates of hospitalization for FR-TBI were recorded over an 8-year period (2000-2007) in two distinct geographic regions (TR and UCR) chosen for their similarity in characteristics associated with occurrence of falls. SETTING: Two geographical regions in Connecticut. PARTICIPANTS: More than 200,000 persons aged 70 and older. INTERVENTION: Clinicians in the TR translated research protocols from the Yale Frailty and Injuries: Cooperative Studies of Intervention Techniques, a successful fall-prevention randomized clinical trial, into discipline- and site-specific fall-prevention procedures for integration into their clinical practices. MEASUREMENTS: Rate of hospitalization for FR-TBI in persons aged 70 and older. RESULTS: Connecticut Collaboration for Fall Prevention's TR exhibited lower rates of hospitalization for FR-TBI than the UCR (risk ratio = 0.84, 95% credible interval = 0.72-0.99). CONCLUSION: The significantly lower rate of hospitalization for FR-TBI in CCFP's TR suggests that the engagement of practicing clinicians in the implementation of evidence-based fall-prevention practices may reduce hospitalizations for FR-TBI.

A descriptive study of the "lift-assist" call.

INTRODUCTION: Responses for "lift assists" (LAs) are common in many emergency medical services (EMS) systems, and result when a person dials 9-1-1 because of an inability to get up, is subsequently determined to be uninjured, and is not transported for further medical attention. Although LAs often involve recurrent calls and are generally not reimbursable, little is known of their operational effects on EMS systems. We hypothesized that LAs present an opportunity for earlier treatment of subtle-onset medical conditions and injury prevention interventions in a population at high risk for falls. Objectives. To quantify LA calls in one community, describe EMS returns to the same address within 30 days following an index LA call, and characterize utilization of EMS by LA patients. METHODS: Data from the computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system of a suburban fire-based EMS system were retrospectively reviewed. All LAs from 2004 to 2009 were identified using "exit codes" transmitted by paramedics after each call. The number and nature of return visits to the same address within 30 days were examined. RESULTS: From 2004 through 2009, there were 1,087 LA responses (4.8% of EMS incidents) to 535 different addresses. Two-thirds of the LA calls (726; 66.8%) were to one-third of these addresses (174 addresses; 32.5%); 563 of the return calls to the same address occurred within 30 days after the index LA. For 214 of these return visits, it was possible to compare patient age and sex with those associated with the initial LA, revealing that 85% of return visits were likely for the same patients. Of these, 38.5% were for another LA/refusal of transport, 8.2% for falls and other injuries, and 47.3% for medical complaints. Hospital transport was required in 55.5% of these return visits. The EMS crews averaged 21.5 minutes out of service per LA call. CONCLUSION: Lift-assist calls are associated with substantial subsequent utilization of EMS, and should trigger fall prevention and other safety interventions. Based on our data, these calls may be early indicators of medical problems that require more aggressive evaluation.

Integration of fall prevention into state policy in Connecticut.

PURPOSE OF STUDY: To describe the ongoing efforts of the Connecticut Collaboration for Fall Prevention (CCFP) to move evidence regarding fall prevention into clinical practice and state policy. METHODS: A university-based team developed methods of networking with existing statewide organizations to influence clinical practice and state policy. RESULTS: We describe steps taken that led to funding and legislation of fall prevention efforts in the state of Connecticut. We summarize CCFP's direct outreach by tabulating the educational sessions delivered and the numbers and types of clinical care providers that were trained. Community organizations that had sustained clinical practices incorporating evidence-based fall prevention were subsequently funded through mini-grants to develop innovative interventional activities. These mini-grants targeted specific subpopulations of older persons at high risk for falls. IMPLICATIONS: Building collaborative relationships with existing stakeholders and care providers throughout the state, CCFP continues to facilitate the integration of evidence-based fall prevention into clinical practice and state-funded policy using strategies that may be useful to others.

Effect of a restorative model of posthospital home care on hospital readmissions.

OBJECTIVES: To compare readmissions of Medicare recipients of usual home care and a matched group of recipients of a restorative model of home care. DESIGN: Quasiexperimental; matched and unmatched. SETTING: Community, home care. PARTICIPANTS: Seven hundred seventy individuals receiving care from a large home care agency after hospitalization. INTERVENTION: A restorative care model based on principles adapted from geriatric medicine, nursing, rehabilitation, goal attainment, chronic care management, and behavioral change theory. MEASUREMENTS: Hospital readmission, length of home care episode. RESULTS: Among the matched pairs, 13.2% of participants who received restorative care were readmitted to an acute hospital during the episode of home care, versus 17.6% of those who received usual care. Individuals receiving the restorative model of home care were 32% less likely to be readmitted than those receiving usual care (conditional odds ratio = 0.68, 95% confidence interval = 0.43-1.08). The mean length of home care episodes was 20.3 ± 14.8 days in the restorative care group and 29.1 ± 31.7 days in the usual care group (P < .001). Results were similar in unmatched analyses. CONCLUSION: Although statistical significance was marginal, results suggest that the restorative care model offers an effective approach to reducing the occurrence of avoidable readmissions. It was previously shown that the restorative model of home care was associated with better functional recovery, fewer emergency department visits, and shorter episodes of home care. This model could be incorporated into usual home care practices and care delivery redesign.

Perspectives of older persons on bathing and bathing disability: a qualitative study.

OBJECTIVES: To understand the bathing experiences, attitudes, and preferences of older persons in order to inform the development of effective patient-centered interventions. DESIGN: Qualitative study using the Grounded Theory framework. SETTING: In-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted in participants' homes. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-three community-living persons aged 78 and older identified from the Precipitating Events Project (PEP). MEASUREMENTS: Open-ended questions about bathing habits, personal meaning and purpose of bathing, difficulties and concerns about bathing, preferences for independent bathing, and attitudes toward different types of bathing assistance. RESULTS: Three themes emerged: the importance and personal significance of bathing to older persons; variability in attitudes, preferences, and sources of bathing assistance; and older persons' anticipation of and responses to bathing disability. CONCLUSION: The bathing experiences described by study participants underscore the personal significance of bathing and the need to account for attitudes and preferences when designing bathing interventions. Quantitative disability assessments may not capture the bathing modifications made by older persons in anticipation of disability and may result in missed opportunities for early intervention. Findings from this study can be used to inform the development of targeted, patient-centered interventions that can subsequently be tested in clinical trials.

Effect of dissemination of evidence in reducing injuries from falls.

BACKGROUND: Falling is a common and morbid condition among elderly persons. Effective strategies to prevent falls have been identified but are underutilized. METHODS: Using a nonrandomized design, we compared rates of injuries from falls in a region of Connecticut where clinicians had been exposed to interventions to change clinical practice (intervention region) and in a region where clinicians had not been exposed to such interventions (usual-care region). The interventions encouraged primary care clinicians and staff members involved in home care, outpatient rehabilitation, and senior centers to adopt effective risk assessments and strategies for the prevention of falls (e.g., medication reduction and balance and gait training). The outcomes were rates of serious fall-related injuries (hip and other fractures, head injuries, and joint dislocations) and fall-related use of medical services per 1000 person-years among persons who were 70 years of age or older. The interventions occurred from 2001 to 2004, and the evaluations took place from 2004 to 2006. RESULTS: Before the interventions, the adjusted rates of serious fall-related injuries (per 1000 person-years) were 31.2 in the usual-care region and 31.9 in the intervention region. During the evaluation period, the adjusted rates were 31.4 and 28.6, respectively (adjusted rate ratio, 0.91; 95% Bayesian credibility interval, 0.88 to 0.94). Between the preintervention period and the evaluation period, the rate of fall-related use of medical services increased from 68.1 to 83.3 per 1000 person-years in the usual-care region and from 70.7 to 74.2 in the intervention region (adjusted rate ratio, 0.89; 95% credibility interval, 0.86 to 0.92). The percentages of clinicians who received intervention visits ranged from 62% (131 of 212 primary care offices) to 100% (26 of 26 home care agencies). CONCLUSIONS: Dissemination of evidence about fall prevention, coupled with interventions to change clinical practice, may reduce fall-related injuries in elderly persons.

Extent of implementation of evidence-based fall prevention practices for older patients in home health care.

This study determined the extent to which fall risk assessment and management practices for older patients were implemented in Medicare-certified home health agencies (HHAs) in a defined geographic area in southern New England that had participated in evidence-based fall prevention training between October 2001 and September 2004. The standardized in-service training sessions taught home health nurses and rehabilitation therapists how to conduct assessments for five evidence-based risk factors for falls in older adults--mobility impairments, balance disturbances, multiple medications, postural hypotension, and home environmental hazards--using techniques shown to be efficacious in clinical trials. Twenty-six HHAs participated in these in-service training sessions; 19 of these participated in a survey of nurses and rehabilitation therapists between October 2004 and September 2005. Self-reported assessment and management practices implemented with older patients during home healthcare visits were measured in this survey, and HHA-level measures for each fall risk factor were constructed based on proportions of clinicians reporting assessment and management practices that were recommended in the fall prevention training sessions. For all fall risk factors except postural hypotension, 80% or more of clinicians in all HHAs reported implementing recommended fall risk management practices. Greater variation was found regarding fall risk assessment practices, with fewer than 70% of clinicians in one or more HHAs reporting recommended assessment practices for all risk factors. Results suggest that evidence-based training for home healthcare clinicians can stimulate fall risk assessment and management practices during home health visits. HHA-level comparisons hold the potential to illustrate the extent of diffusion of evidence-based fall prevention practices within and between agencies.

Step by step: integrating evidence-based fall-risk management into senior centers.

PURPOSE: Our purpose in this project was to conceptualize and implement evidence-based fall-prevention programming into senior centers. We present challenges to this process and strategies to overcome them. DESIGN AND METHODS: We carried out a dissemination project in nine diverse senior centers in Connecticut. Participants included investigators from the Connecticut Collaboration for Fall Prevention (CCFP), senior center administrators, and trained staff interventionists implementing a program of fall prevention based on the Yale Frailty and Injury Cooperative Studies of Intervention Trials (known as the Yale FICSIT). Using CCFP materials that were based on the stages of change, senior center staff developed methods to integrate fall-prevention programming into their centers. We extracted implementation challenges, and the strategies that senior center staff developed to overcome them, from the minutes of monthly work-group meetings. Monthly counts of individual assessments were also a source of data. RESULTS: Challenges included staffing and the delineation of authority, structural issues, engaging senior center membership, cultural issues, and the modification of existing practices. Each senior center devised site-specific methods to overcome these challenges when CCFP investigators convened work-group meetings. We developed creative strategies to inform senior center membership about fall prevention, and in the first 18 months, 4% of members scheduled individual assessments. IMPLICATIONS: The challenges of integrating evidence-based fall-prevention programming into existing senior center services can be negotiated by collaboration among senior center administrators, health providers, the center membership, and researchers. This experience suggests that senior centers may be important venues to reach older adults with fall-prevention programming.

Patterns of diffusion of evidence-based clinical programmes: a case study of the Hospital Elder Life Program.

BACKGROUND: The effective translation of scientific evidence into clinical practice is paramount to improving the quality and safety of patient care. However, little is known about the patterns of diffusion of evidence-based programmes in healthcare. OBJECTIVES: To study the pattern of diffusion of an evidence-based programme to improve the quality and safety of care for hospitalised older adults. METHODS: The diffusion of the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP), a multifaceted programme to reduce delirium in hospitalised adults, was examined. Using a survey of all hospitals that contacted the HELP Dissemination Project for more than 2 years, the proportion of hospitals that adopted the programme, the programme fidelity to the original design in terms of structure and process, and the perceived reasons for non-adoption were identified. RESULTS: Programme fidelity was highest among structural features (eg, staffing levels); programme modifications were more commonplace in processes of care (eg, the participation of volunteers in patient care interventions). Senior management support and the programme expense were the most commonly cited reasons for non-adoption of HELP. CONCLUSION: Diffusion and take-up rates for this evidence-based programme were substantial; however, programme fidelity was not complete and some hospitals did not adopt the programme at all. Clinicians, researchers and funding agents seeking to promote effective translation of research should be realistic about diffusion rates and recognise the critical ingredient of senior management support to propel adoption of evidence-based programmes to improve quality and safety.

The roles of senior management in improving hospital experiences for frail older adults.

With the aging of the population, healthcare executives are paying increased attention to fostering safe and high-quality care for older adults who become hospitalized. The Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) is an evidence-based program that has been shown to be cost-effective in reducing episodes of delirium, functional decline, and long-term nursing home placement for older hospitalized adults. Senior administrators are known to play a role in quality improvement, but little is known about their roles in adopting clinical improvement programs such as HELP. Therefore, we conducted a mixed-methods study of 63 hospitals at different stages of adopting HELP to identify key roles and motivations of senior management to adopt HELP and the perceived impact of HELP on patient and staff outcomes. Our findings can be used by hospital management teams as they identify ways to influence and benefit from efforts to improve clinical quality, safety, and the experiences of older adults treated in their hospitals.

Dissemination of the hospital elder life program: implementation, adaptation, and successes.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) across dissemination sites, to detail adaptations, and to summarize advantages across sites. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: HELP sites in acute care hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Thirteen sites that enrolled 11,344 patients. MEASUREMENTS: Seventy-five closed- and open-ended questions describing details of the HELP site, procedures, staffing, outcomes tracked, and advantages. RESULTS: As of July 1, 2005, HELP had been fully implemented in 13 sites, with a median duration of 24 months (range 6.0-38.0). Although a high degree of fidelity to the original model was maintained, variations existed in staffing patterns, outcome tracking, and recommended HELP procedures. Adaptations were made across multiple domains, including enrollment criteria at 15.4% of sites, screening and assessment tools at 61.5%, and individual intervention protocols at 15.4% to 30.8%. Local circumstances drove these adaptations, with the most common reasons being lack of adequate staffing and logistical constraints. All sites conducted regular HELP staff meetings; other recommended quality assurance procedures were conducted at 46.2% to 92.3% of sites. Reported advantages of HELP included providing an educational resource at 100% of sites, improving hospital outcomes (e.g., delirium and functional decline) at 100%, providing nursing education and improving retention at 100%, enhancing patient and family satisfaction with care at 92.3%, raising visibility for geriatrics at 92.3%, and improving quality of care at 84.6%. CONCLUSION: This report describes the real-world implementation of HELP across 13 sites, documents their local adaptations and successes, and provides insight into how motivated institutions can create change to improve quality of care for older persons.

The science of improving function: implications for home healthcare.

Since implementation of the Outcome and Assessment Information Set and publicly reported outcome indicators, a focus of home healthcare necessarily includes efforts to improve older patients' functional abilities. This article presents results from selected home-based research studies providing strategies for evidence-based practice to efficiently and effectively improve functional outcomes. Assessments and interventions are suggested, as well as administrative and clinical processes of care that have been found to successfully translate research into practice. Results suggest that if systems of care are redesigned, the payoff in patient and staff satisfaction and in improved functional and economic outcomes can be substantial.