Key result
Among 339 geriatric transitional care patients, an inter-professional care team significantly reduced length of stay, patient days, and total charges compared to a traditional single provider model.
Why the study?
Does an inter-professional care team reduce length of stay and payer charges in geriatric transitional care patients?
Cohort (n=339)
Does an inter-professional care team reduce length of stay and payer charges in geriatric transitional care patients?
Inter-professional care teams in geriatric transitional care units can significantly reduce length of stay and healthcare costs compared to traditional single-provider models.
May support inter-professional models in geriatric transitional care; leaves open need for randomized confirmation before practice change.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the impact of the use of an inter-professional care team on patient length of stay and payer charges in a geriatric transitional care unit. METHODS: An analysis of de-identified administrative records for transitional care patients for the 12-month period (2003-2004) cared for by the inter-professional team (n = 163) and cared for by traditional single provider care model (n = 176) was carried out. We conducted logistic regression on length of stay and charges controlling for patient demographics and acuity levels. RESULTS: The inter-professional care team patients had significantly shorter lengths of stay, fewer patient days and lower total charges. Patient diagnosis and acuity were similar across groups. CONCLUSION: This study provides empirical evidence of the impact of an inter-professional care model in providing cost-effective transitional care in a nursing home setting. Evidence of shorter lengths of stay, shorter patient days and lower charges suggests benefit in the development and financing of inter-professional care teams for transitional care services.
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Blewett et al. (2009) conducted a cohort in Geriatric transitional care (n=339). Inter-professional care team vs. Traditional single provider care model was evaluated on Length of stay and payer charges. Among 339 geriatric transitional care patients, an inter-professional care team significantly reduced length of stay, patient days, and total charges compared to a traditional single provider model.
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