Oral

Abstract In nursing homes, both quality of care and costs are highly dependent on practice patterns, including the organization of work. Nursing homes continue to face pressures to improve the quality of care they provide. Yet the fiscal and budgetary crises impacting both the federal and state governments increase the revenue constrains that nursing homes face, impacting their ability to change practice patterns and improve quality. In this session we will examine research findings demonstrating the complex relationships between practice patterns, quality of care, and costs in nursing homes. These studies offer empirical evidence on the relationship between costs and practice patterns, and their impact on quality. The findings highlight strategies for transforming the nursing home environment in efforts to improve quality and costs.

Session Objectives: Learning Objectives: 1. Assess and explain the relationship between nursing home practice patterns, costs, payer status and quality of care. 2) Evaluate models for assessing nursing home quality of care.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)