Reducing Hospitalizations and Costs: A Home Health Nutrition‐Focused Quality Improvement Program

Katie Riley; Suela Sulo; Firas Dabbous; Jamie Partridge; Sarah Kozmic; Wendy Landow; Gretchen VanDerBosch; Mary Kay Falson; Krishnan Sriram

doi:10.1002/jpen.1606

journal article Open Access Jun 24, 2019

Reducing Hospitalizations and Costs: A Home Health Nutrition‐Focused Quality Improvement Program

Katie Riley

Suela Sulo Firas Dabbous Jamie Partridge Sarah Kozmic Wendy Landow Gretchen VanDerBosch Mary Kay Falson Krishnan Sriram

Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition Vol. 44 No. 1 pp. 58-68 · Wiley

View at Publisher Save 10.1002/jpen.1606

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundIdentification and treatment of malnutrition across the care continuum can help prevent illness onset or relapse and maximize the effectiveness of other medical treatments. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a nutrition‐focused quality improvement program (QIP) conducted in a home health agency (HHA) on hospitalization rates and healthcare costs incurred over 90 days.MethodsThis was a multisite, pre‐post QIP implemented at 2 branches of an Illinois‐based HHA. The QIP included 1546 patients who were (1) at‐risk or malnourished hospitalized patients discharged to the HHA, (2) referred by a physician during an outpatient visit, or (3) enrolled in the HHA through a skilled nursing facility. A historic (n = 7413 patients) and concurrent group (n = 5235) of patients were used for comparisons. Propensity score matching was used to account for imbalances in patient characteristics.ResultsThe QIP led to reduced relative risk of hospitalization post‐enrollment to the QIP by 24.3%, 22.8%, and 18.3% at 30, 60, and 90 days, respectively, when compared with the historic group, and by 18.2%, 16.2%, and 12.1% when compared with the concurrent group. Total cost savings from reduced 90‐day healthcare resource utilization was $2,318,894, or $1500 per patient treated.ConclusionsRates of hospitalization and healthcare resources can be significantly reduced through the implementation of a nutrition‐focused QIP delivering oral nutritional supplements in home health settings for adults at‐risk/malnourished. These results highlight the importance of nutrition as a strategy for HHAs and other post‐acute care institutions to improve patients' health outcomes and generate cost savings.

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Details

Published: Jun 24, 2019
Vol/Issue: 44(1)
Pages: 58-68
License: View

Authors

K

Katie Riley