Using Palliative Care Nurses in a Supportive Care Program to Reduce Hospital Utilization for Patients With Multiple Chronic Conditions.

BACKGROUND: Health care organizations are designing comprehensive care programs to reduce hospital utilization by high-risk patients with multiple chronic illnesses. LOCAL PROBLEM: A community hospital recognized patients with multiple chronic conditions had higher rates of inpatient stays and emergency department (ED) visits. METHODS: Patients (n = 36) with multiple chronic conditions enrolled in a supportive care program. Researchers analyzed hospital utilization, inpatient stays, and ED visits preintervention and postgraduation for the participants enrolled. Palliative care nurses were assigned to patients enrolled in the supportive care program. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant decrease in hospital utilization (Z = -2.540, P = .011) and inpatient stays (Z = -4.037, P < .001) following the implementation of the supportive care program. CONCLUSIONS: The study met its aim of reducing hospital utilization and inpatient stays by creating a comprehensive approach to support high-risk patients in self-management of their chronic illnesses.

Hospital Readmission Rates Following Skills Training for Nurses Employed in Long-term Care Facilities.

Reducing hospital readmissions is a priority for health care providers and affects Medicare reimbursement. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a significant difference in readmission rates from long-term care facilities to hospitals with the implementation of a training program for long-term care nurses. The main findings revealed that the training did not significantly affect hospital readmissions; however, the organization saw a significant decrease in hospital readmissions after 24 months of data collection.