Background: Following a hospitalization, older adults, their caregivers, and clinicians caring for them face a complex decision regarding post-acute care (PAC). The purpose of PAC, delivered by a skilled nursing facility (SNF) or home health (HH), is to support the recovery of patients after hospital discharge. However, the transition to PAC is a vulnerable time […]

Background: The strongest risk factor for readmission to the hospital and failure to successfully return to the community after hospital discharge is impaired physical function. Although published experience with wearable devices in post-acute care settings is scant, measurement of steps in other care settings has been shown to be feasible and directly linked with post-discharge […]

Background: The VA, like many health care systems, seeks to meet the needs of a rapidly growing older adult population. The transition from hospital to post-hospital care – particularly in older adults- is increasingly common, but unfortunately is high-risk and low-value. Further, 85% of older adults choosing a skilled nursing facility had a higher-quality facility […]

Background: Prior to the COVID Pandemic, the telemedicine market was expected to grow at a rate of 18.4 percent a year. With the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act signed into law in March 2020, Telehealth has experienced rapid expansion. Tele-hospital medicine is carving out several new niches. One is providing a virtual hospitalist […]