 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
John F. Schnelle, PhD, Sandra Simmons, PhD, Barbara Bates-Jensen, PhD, Dab Osterweil, MD, and Mary P. Cadogan, Dr PH. UCLA, 7150 Tampa Ave./JHA, Borun Center, Reseda, CA 91335, 818 774 3347, jschnell@ucla.edu
The purpose of this study was to determine if quality indicators based on information that NHs report to Federal and State agencies inform consumers about NH care quality. The accuracy and validity of seven indicators generated from the Minimum Data Set (MDS) were evaluated in this study. The MDS quality indicators are Prevalence of: Weight Loss; Bedfast Residents; Restraints; Pressure Ulcers; Depression; Urinary Incontinence; and Urinary Incontinence without a Toileting Plan. In addition, one staffing indicator was also evaluated that assessed the total direct nursing care hours each resident received per day. The primary question addressed for each of these eight indicators was: Does the quality of care provided by NHs that score in either the lower 25th percentile or upper 75th percentile on the indicators differ when care processes are independently measured during a site visit? There were more similarities than differences in care between homes that differed significantly on the MDS quality indicators even though the weight loss, restraint, and bedfast indicators provided at least some discrimination of quality. However, staffing information was more associated with quality than MDS quality indicators. Homes that reported total staffing hours in the upper decile (4.5 to 4.9 staffing hours per resident per day) provided dramatically better care on multiple measures than homes that reported staffing below this number.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Quality of Care,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.