Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
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Multicenter Study
Process Evaluation of a Quality Improvement Project to Decrease Hospital Readmissions From Skilled Nursing Facilities.
To describe and evaluate the impact of quality improvement (QI) support provided to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) by a Quality Improvement Organization (QIO). ⋯ This process evaluation documented mixed clinical results but successfully identified opportunities to improve recruitment of and provision of technical support to participating SNFs. Recommendations are offered for others who wish to conduct similar projects.
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Observational Study
Malnutrition According to Mini Nutritional Assessment Is Associated With Severe Functional Impairment in Geriatric Patients Before and up to 6 Months After Hip Fracture.
Hip fractures (HFs) in old age frequently cause severe functional impairment and deteriorating autonomy in everyday life. Many older patients with HFs are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. In this study, we examined the relationship between nutritional status of geriatric patients before HF and their functional and clinical course up to 6 months after hospital discharge. ⋯ In this study with geriatric HF patients from all functional and cognitive levels, worse prefracture nutritional status was associated with worse functional status and more frequent remaining functional loss, whereas the trajectory of ADL recovery and clinical course did not differ significantly. Further studies with sufficient statistical power are needed to substantiate these inconclusive results. In order to clarify the association of nutritional status with functional and clinical course in geriatric patients after HF, they should preferably focus on the role of nutritional management during the hospital stay.