Background: Discharge summaries assist in the transition from inpatient to outpatient care by communicating key diagnoses, medication changes, and follow-up instructions. Despite use of standard formats for discharge summaries through electronic medical records (EMR), primary care physicians (PCPs) report dissatisfaction with locating important information in discharge summaries. Purpose: The aim of our project was to […]

Background: Discharge summaries assist in the transition from inpatient to outpatient care by communicating key diagnoses, medication changes, and follow-up instructions. Despite use of standard formats for discharge summaries through electronic medical records (EMR), primary care physicians (PCPs) report dissatisfaction with locating important information in discharge summaries. Purpose: The aim of our project was to […]

Background: Literature regarding resident education in transitions of care is limited, particularly in geriatric populations. The University of Colorado performed a pilot of a virtual multidisciplinary conference call between providers on the geriatric inpatient unit of the University of Colorado Hospital and its Seniors Clinic. Residents rotating on the Acute Care of the Elder (ACE) […]

Background: Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) occurs in 15% of anticoagulated patients. Anticoagulation is usually discontinued for a period, prior to restarting. However, there is sparse data about resuming anticoagulation and factors that may delay resumption. We aimed to analyze the rates of warfarin resumption in patients with atrial fibrillation and whether there are any disparities based […]

Background: Although many older adults will be hospitalized in their lifetime, most do not consider or plan ahead for their post-hospitalization support needs. When older adults experience a hospitalization, families often must react to the crisis leaving the older adult out of the decision process (e.g. choosing a skilled nursing facility, caregivers). With PCORI funding, […]

Background: Hospital practices have increasingly utilized nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) to supplement provider support. However, standard interview formats have historically lacked the sensitivity to distinguish candidates with the unique aptitude for the specialty and are subject to biases with inadequate reliability and reproducibility. Medical simulation has been shown to successfully provide a […]

Background: Persons with opioid use disorders (OUD) represent a disproportionately high percentage of hospitalized patients, have greater lengths of stay and readmissions, can incur higher costs, and are at greater risk of drug-related death immediately post-discharge. Further, despite the availability of effective medications for OUD, patients often are not offered treatment during the inpatient encounter. […]

Background: Transition from an acute care setting to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) or home is ripe with opportunities for poor communication. Changes in medications, lack of understanding about disease processes, and inadequate discharge teaching make patients vulnerable. Misunderstanding or lack of recognition can result in a readmission. Thus, 30‐day readmissions to the hospital are […]

Background: Nearly half of hospitalized patients with bacteriuria or treated for pneumonia receive unnecessary antibiotics (non-infectious/non-bacterial syndrome, e.g., asymptomatic bacteriuria), excess duration (antibiotics prescribed for longer than necessary), or avoidable fluoroquinolones (safer alternative available) at hospital discharge.1-3 However, it is unknown whether antibiotic overuse at discharge varies between hospitals or is associated with patient outcomes. […]

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major public health problem. The Global Burden of Disease Study has projected that COPD will become the third‐leading cause of death worldwide by 2020. In developed countries, COPD exacerbations account for the greatest burden in the health care system, costing the United States billions of dollars annually. […]