Sneak Peek: Journal of Hospital Medicine – August 2017

 

BACKGROUND: There is increasing recognition that patients have critical insights into care experiences, including about breakdowns in care. Harnessing patient perspectives for hospital improvement requires an in-depth understanding of the types of breakdowns patients identify and the impact of these events.

METHODS: We interviewed a broad sample of patients during hospitalization and post discharge to elicit patient perspectives on breakdowns in care. Through an iterative process, we developed a categorization of patient-perceived breakdowns called the Patient Experience Coding Tool.

RESULTS: Of 979 interviewees, 386 (39.4%) believed they had experienced at least one breakdown in care. The most common reported breakdowns involved information exchange (n = 158; 16.1%), medications (n = 120; 12.3%), delays in admission (n = 90; 9.2%), team communication (n = 65; 6.6%), providers’ manner (n = 62; 6.3%), and discharge (n = 56; 5.7%). Of the 386 interviewees who reported a breakdown, 140 (36.3%) perceived associated harm. Patient-perceived harms included physical (e.g., pain), emotional (e.g., distress, worry), damage to relationship with providers, need for additional care or prolonged hospital stay, and life disruption. We found higher rates of reporting breakdowns among younger (less than 60 years old) patients (45.4% vs. 34.5%; P less than .001), those with at least some college education (46.8% vs 32.7%; P less than .001), and those with another person (family or friend) present during the interview or interviewed in lieu of the patient (53.4% vs 37.8%; P = .002).

CONCLUSIONS: When asked directly, almost 4 out of 10 hospitalized patients reported a breakdown in their care. Patient-perceived breakdowns in care are frequently associated with perceived harm, illustrating the importance of detecting and addressing these events.

Also in JHM

Excess readmission vs. excess penalties: Maximum readmission penalties as a function of socioeconomics and geography

AUTHORS: Chris M. Caracciolo, MPH, Devin M. Parker, MS, Emily Marshall, MS, Jeremiah R. Brown, PhD, MS

Impact of a safety huddle-based intervention on monitor alarm rates in low-acuity pediatric intensive care unit patientsAUTHORS: Maya Dewan, MD, MPH, Heather Wolfe, MD, MSHP, Richard Lin, MD, Eileen Ware, RN, Michelle Weiss, RN, Lihai Song, MS, Matthew MacMurchy, BA, Daniela Davis, MD, MSCE, Christopher P. Bonafide MD MSCE

Perspectives of clinicians at skilled nursing facilities on 30-day hospital readmissions: A qualitative studyAUTHORS: Bennett W. Clark, MD, Katelyn Baron, MSIOP, Kathleen Tynan-McKiernan, RN, MSN, Meredith Campbell Britton, LMSW, Karl E. Minges, PhD, Sarwat I. Chaudhry, MD

Use of postacute facility care in children hospitalized with acute respiratory illnessAUTHORS: Jay G. Berry, MD, MPH, Karen M. Wilson, MD, MPH, FAAP, Helene Dumas, PT, MS, Edwin Simpser, MD, Jane O’Brien, MD, Kathleen Whitford, PNP, Rachna May, MD, Vineeta Mittal, MD, Nancy Murphy, MD, David Steinhorn, MD, Rishi Agrawal, MD, MPH, Kris Rehm, MD, Michelle Marks, DO, FAAP, SFHM, Christine Traul, MD, Michael Dribbon, PhD, Christopher J. Haines, DO, MBA, FAAP, FACEP, Matt Hall, PhD

A contemporary assessment of mechanical complication rates and trainee perceptions of central venous catheter insertionAUTHORS: Lauren Heidemann, MD, Niket Nathani, MD, Rommel Sagana, MD, Vineet Chopra, MD, MSc, Michael Heung, MD, MS

For more articles and subscription information, visit www.journalofhospitalmedicine.com.

 

BACKGROUND: There is increasing recognition that patients have critical insights into care experiences, including about breakdowns in care. Harnessing patient perspectives for hospital improvement requires an in-depth understanding of the types of breakdowns patients identify and the impact of these events.

METHODS: We interviewed a broad sample of patients during hospitalization and post discharge to elicit patient perspectives on breakdowns in care. Through an iterative process, we developed a categorization of patient-perceived breakdowns called the Patient Experience Coding Tool.

RESULTS: Of 979 interviewees, 386 (39.4%) believed they had experienced at least one breakdown in care. The most common reported breakdowns involved information exchange (n = 158; 16.1%), medications (n = 120; 12.3%), delays in admission (n = 90; 9.2%), team communication (n = 65; 6.6%), providers’ manner (n = 62; 6.3%), and discharge (n = 56; 5.7%). Of the 386 interviewees who reported a breakdown, 140 (36.3%) perceived associated harm. Patient-perceived harms included physical (e.g., pain), emotional (e.g., distress, worry), damage to relationship with providers, need for additional care or prolonged hospital stay, and life disruption. We found higher rates of reporting breakdowns among younger (less than 60 years old) patients (45.4% vs. 34.5%; P less than .001), those with at least some college education (46.8% vs 32.7%; P less than .001), and those with another person (family or friend) present during the interview or interviewed in lieu of the patient (53.4% vs 37.8%; P = .002).

CONCLUSIONS: When asked directly, almost 4 out of 10 hospitalized patients reported a breakdown in their care. Patient-perceived breakdowns in care are frequently associated with perceived harm, illustrating the importance of detecting and addressing these events.

Also in JHM

Excess readmission vs. excess penalties: Maximum readmission penalties as a function of socioeconomics and geography

AUTHORS: Chris M. Caracciolo, MPH, Devin M. Parker, MS, Emily Marshall, MS, Jeremiah R. Brown, PhD, MS

Impact of a safety huddle-based intervention on monitor alarm rates in low-acuity pediatric intensive care unit patientsAUTHORS: Maya Dewan, MD, MPH, Heather Wolfe, MD, MSHP, Richard Lin, MD, Eileen Ware, RN, Michelle Weiss, RN, Lihai Song, MS, Matthew MacMurchy, BA, Daniela Davis, MD, MSCE, Christopher P. Bonafide MD MSCE

Perspectives of clinicians at skilled nursing facilities on 30-day hospital readmissions: A qualitative studyAUTHORS: Bennett W. Clark, MD, Katelyn Baron, MSIOP, Kathleen Tynan-McKiernan, RN, MSN, Meredith Campbell Britton, LMSW, Karl E. Minges, PhD, Sarwat I. Chaudhry, MD

Use of postacute facility care in children hospitalized with acute respiratory illnessAUTHORS: Jay G. Berry, MD, MPH, Karen M. Wilson, MD, MPH, FAAP, Helene Dumas, PT, MS, Edwin Simpser, MD, Jane O’Brien, MD, Kathleen Whitford, PNP, Rachna May, MD, Vineeta Mittal, MD, Nancy Murphy, MD, David Steinhorn, MD, Rishi Agrawal, MD, MPH, Kris Rehm, MD, Michelle Marks, DO, FAAP, SFHM, Christine Traul, MD, Michael Dribbon, PhD, Christopher J. Haines, DO, MBA, FAAP, FACEP, Matt Hall, PhD

A contemporary assessment of mechanical complication rates and trainee perceptions of central venous catheter insertionAUTHORS: Lauren Heidemann, MD, Niket Nathani, MD, Rommel Sagana, MD, Vineet Chopra, MD, MSc, Michael Heung, MD, MS

For more articles and subscription information, visit www.journalofhospitalmedicine.com.

 

BACKGROUND: There is increasing recognition that patients have critical insights into care experiences, including about breakdowns in care. Harnessing patient perspectives for hospital improvement requires an in-depth understanding of the types of breakdowns patients identify and the impact of these events.

METHODS: We interviewed a broad sample of patients during hospitalization and post discharge to elicit patient perspectives on breakdowns in care. Through an iterative process, we developed a categorization of patient-perceived breakdowns called the Patient Experience Coding Tool.

RESULTS: Of 979 interviewees, 386 (39.4%) believed they had experienced at least one breakdown in care. The most common reported breakdowns involved information exchange (n = 158; 16.1%), medications (n = 120; 12.3%), delays in admission (n = 90; 9.2%), team communication (n = 65; 6.6%), providers’ manner (n = 62; 6.3%), and discharge (n = 56; 5.7%). Of the 386 interviewees who reported a breakdown, 140 (36.3%) perceived associated harm. Patient-perceived harms included physical (e.g., pain), emotional (e.g., distress, worry), damage to relationship with providers, need for additional care or prolonged hospital stay, and life disruption. We found higher rates of reporting breakdowns among younger (less than 60 years old) patients (45.4% vs. 34.5%; P less than .001), those with at least some college education (46.8% vs 32.7%; P less than .001), and those with another person (family or friend) present during the interview or interviewed in lieu of the patient (53.4% vs 37.8%; P = .002).

CONCLUSIONS: When asked directly, almost 4 out of 10 hospitalized patients reported a breakdown in their care. Patient-perceived breakdowns in care are frequently associated with perceived harm, illustrating the importance of detecting and addressing these events.

Also in JHM

Excess readmission vs. excess penalties: Maximum readmission penalties as a function of socioeconomics and geography

AUTHORS: Chris M. Caracciolo, MPH, Devin M. Parker, MS, Emily Marshall, MS, Jeremiah R. Brown, PhD, MS

Impact of a safety huddle-based intervention on monitor alarm rates in low-acuity pediatric intensive care unit patientsAUTHORS: Maya Dewan, MD, MPH, Heather Wolfe, MD, MSHP, Richard Lin, MD, Eileen Ware, RN, Michelle Weiss, RN, Lihai Song, MS, Matthew MacMurchy, BA, Daniela Davis, MD, MSCE, Christopher P. Bonafide MD MSCE

Perspectives of clinicians at skilled nursing facilities on 30-day hospital readmissions: A qualitative studyAUTHORS: Bennett W. Clark, MD, Katelyn Baron, MSIOP, Kathleen Tynan-McKiernan, RN, MSN, Meredith Campbell Britton, LMSW, Karl E. Minges, PhD, Sarwat I. Chaudhry, MD

Use of postacute facility care in children hospitalized with acute respiratory illnessAUTHORS: Jay G. Berry, MD, MPH, Karen M. Wilson, MD, MPH, FAAP, Helene Dumas, PT, MS, Edwin Simpser, MD, Jane O’Brien, MD, Kathleen Whitford, PNP, Rachna May, MD, Vineeta Mittal, MD, Nancy Murphy, MD, David Steinhorn, MD, Rishi Agrawal, MD, MPH, Kris Rehm, MD, Michelle Marks, DO, FAAP, SFHM, Christine Traul, MD, Michael Dribbon, PhD, Christopher J. Haines, DO, MBA, FAAP, FACEP, Matt Hall, PhD

A contemporary assessment of mechanical complication rates and trainee perceptions of central venous catheter insertionAUTHORS: Lauren Heidemann, MD, Niket Nathani, MD, Rommel Sagana, MD, Vineet Chopra, MD, MSc, Michael Heung, MD, MS

For more articles and subscription information, visit www.journalofhospitalmedicine.com.