title: The VA Medical Foster Home Program, Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions, and Avoidable Hospitalizations.
abstract: This quality control study analyzes whether the Veterans Administration Medical Foster Home (VA MFH) program has been successful in improving access and effectiveness of ambulatory care. Individuals hospitalized for one or more of 22 adult ambulatory care sensitive conditions were identified. Pre and post comparisons of a specified population of participants in the program were conducted to determine rates of avoidable hospitalizations for 6 months prior to and following MFH enrollment. The overall rate of avoidable hospitalizations declined from 18.5 to 14.9 per 100 enrollees following enrollment. The number of bed days used declined by 39%, as did the cost associated with avoidable hospitalizations. Enrollment in the VA MFH program resulted in an overall reduction in the rate of avoidable hospitalizations, resource utilization, and costs. Studies are needed comparing these results with other matched cohorts of nursing home eligible veterans.
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health, USF, Tampa, FL epracht@health.usf.edu.
authors.forename: Etienne E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Pracht
authors.affiliation: Veterans Administration, Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Denver, CO.
authors.forename: Cari R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.affiliation: James A. Haley Veterans Administration Medical Center, Tampa, FL.
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: District of Columbia Veterans Administration Medical Center, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Farrokh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alemi
authors.affiliation: Bay Pines Veterans Administration Healthcare System, Bay Pines, FL.
authors.forename: Allison E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D005581:Foster Home Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*
keywords: ACSC; avoidable hospitalizations; medical foster home; veterans