The effect of frontloading visits on patient outcomes.
Frontloading, providing 60% of planned visits in the first 2 weeks of the home healthcare episode, was tested in two groups of patients: insulin-dependent patients with diabetes and patients with a primary diagnosis of heart failure. Frontloading was effective for patients with heart failure, decreasing rehospitalization by more than half (39.4-16%), with fewer visits (15.5 vs. 9.5) and equal clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction. There were no significant differences in outcomes for patients with diabetes.
Rogers
Joanne
J
University Hospitals Home Care, Cleveland, OH, USA. JoanneM.Rogers@UHHS.com
Perlic
Mary
M
Madigan
Elizabeth A
EA
D000368:Aged; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000458:organization & administration; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D017050:Episode of Care; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000458:organization & administration; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration