Postdischarge outcome rates influenced by comorbidity and interdisciplinary collaboration.
This study investigated the relationship between health care professionals' ratings of their discharge planning collaboration and other patient characteristics with rates of postdischarge outcomes experienced by a sample of elderly veterans. The significant influence of interdisciplinary collaboration levels and comorbidity was demonstrated on emergency room visits and postdischarge fall rates. The author discusses several complex methodological issues for future studies on the relationship between programmatic and patient characteristics and cross-sector patient outcomes.
Corser
William D
WD
College of Nursing, Michigan State University, A109 Life Sciences, East Lansing, MI 48824-1317, USA. bill.corser@ht.msu.edu
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000359:Aftercare / Q000458:organization & administration*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000592:standards; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000592:standards*; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014728:Veterans