Journal of general internal medicine
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
"I Had Bills to Pay": a Mixed-Methods Study on the Role of Income on Care Transitions in a Public-Payer Healthcare System.
Income disparities may affect patients' care transition home. Evidence among patients who have access to publicly funded healthcare coverage remains limited. ⋯ There were few quantitative differences in patient experience, adherence, ED visits, readmissions, and death post-discharge between individuals reporting low versus higher income. Several hidden costs for transportation, medications, and home care were reported however and warrant further research.
-
With an aging population, older adults are increasingly serving as caregivers to others, which may increase their risk of adverse interpersonal experiences. ⋯ In this national cohort of older community-dwelling adults, caregiving was independently associated with experiencing emotional and financial mistreatment after age 60. Findings suggest that efforts to prevent or mitigate elder mistreatment should put more emphasis on vulnerable older caregivers.
-
Mailed stool testing programs increase colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in diverse settings, but whether uptake differs by key demographic characteristics is not well-studied and has health equity implications. ⋯ Mailed FIT outreach with patient navigation implemented in an FQHC system was effective in equitably reaching patients not up to date for CRC screening.
-
Observational Study
The Association of Teamlets and Teams with Physician Burnout and Patient Outcomes.
Primary care "teamlets" in which a staff member and physician consistently work together might provide a simple, cost-effective way to improve care, with or without insertion within a team. ⋯ Most general internists and family physicians practice in teamlets, and some practice in teams, but neither practicing in a teamlet, in a team, or in the two together was associated with lower physician burnout, better outcomes for patients, or lower Medicare spending. Further study is indicated to investigate whether certain types of teamlet, teams, or teamlets within teams can achieve higher performance.