Browsing by Author "Wang, Virginia"
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Item Open Access Adapting to CONNECT: modifying a nursing home-based team-building intervention to improve hospital care team interactions, functioning, and implementation readiness.(BMC health services research, 2022-07) Wang, Virginia; D'Adolf, Joshua; Decosimo, Kasey; Robinson, Katina; Choate, Ashley; Bruening, Rebecca; Sperber, Nina; Mahanna, Elizabeth; Van Houtven, Courtney H; Allen, Kelli D; Colón-Emeric, Cathleen; Damush, Teresa M; Hastings, Susan NBackground
Clinical interventions often need to be adapted from their original design when they are applied to new settings. There is a growing literature describing frameworks and approaches to deploying and documenting adaptations of evidence-based practices in healthcare. Still, intervention modifications are often limited in detail and justification, which may prevent rigorous evaluation of interventions and intervention adaptation effectiveness in new contexts. We describe our approach in a case study, combining two complementary intervention adaptation frameworks to modify CONNECT for Quality, a provider-facing team building and communication intervention designed to facilitate implementation of a new clinical program.Methods
This process of intervention adaptation involved the use of the Planned Adaptation Framework and the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications, for systematically identifying key drivers, core and non-core components of interventions for documenting planned and unplanned changes to intervention design.Results
The CONNECT intervention's original context and setting is first described and then compared with its new application. This lays the groundwork for the intentional modifications to intervention design, which are developed before intervention delivery to participating providers. The unpredictable nature of implementation in real-world practice required unplanned adaptations, which were also considered and documented. Attendance and participation rates were examined and qualitative assessment of reported participant experience supported the feasibility and acceptability of adaptations of the original CONNECT intervention in a new clinical context.Conclusion
This approach may serve as a useful guide for intervention implementation efforts applied in diverse clinical contexts and subsequent evaluations of intervention effectiveness.Trial registration
The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT03300336 ) on September 28, 2017.Item Open Access Early Mobility in the Hospital: Lessons Learned from the STRIDE Program.(Geriatrics (Basel, Switzerland), 2018-12) Hastings, Susan Nicole; Choate, Ashley L; Mahanna, Elizabeth P; Floegel, Theresa A; Allen, Kelli D; Van Houtven, Courtney H; Wang, VirginiaImmobility during hospitalization is widely recognized as a contributor to deconditioning, functional loss, and increased need for institutional post-acute care. Several studies have demonstrated that inpatient walking programs can mitigate some of these negative outcomes, yet hospital mobility programs are not widely available in U.S. hospitals. STRIDE (assiSTed eaRly mobIlity for hospitalizeD older vEterans) is a supervised walking program for hospitalized older adults that fills this important gap in clinical care. This paper describes how STRIDE works and how it is being disseminated to other hospitals using the Replicating Effective Programs (REP) framework. Guided by REP, we define core components of the program and areas where the program can be tailored to better fit the needs and local conditions of its new context (hospital). We describe key adaptations made by four hospitals who have implemented the STRIDE program and discuss lessons learned for successful implementation of hospital mobility programs.Item Open Access Economic evaluation of telephone self-management interventions for blood pressure control.(American heart journal, 2012-06) Wang, Virginia; Smith, Valerie A; Bosworth, Hayden B; Oddone, Eugene Z; Olsen, Maren K; McCant, Felicia; Powers, Benjamin J; Van Houtven, Courtney HaroldBackground
Half of patients with hypertension have poor blood pressure (BP) control. Recent models for treating hypertension have integrated disease monitoring and telephone-based interventions delivered in patients' homes. This study evaluated the costs of the Hypertension Intervention Nurse Telemedicine Study (HINTS), aimed to improve BP control in veterans.Methods
Eligible veterans were randomized to either usual care or 1 of 3 telephone-based intervention groups using home BP telemonitoring: (1) behavioral management, (2) medication management, or (3) combined. Intervention costs were derived from information collected during the trial. Direct medical costs (inpatient, outpatient, and outpatient pharmacy, including hypertension-specific pharmacy) at 18 months by group were calculated using Veterans Affairs (VA) Decision Support System data. Bootstrapped CIs were computed to compare intervention and medical costs between intervention groups and usual care.Results
Patients receiving behavior or medication management showed significant gains in BP control at 12 months; there were no differences in BP control at 18 months. In subgroup analysis, patients with poor baseline BP control receiving combined intervention significantly improved BP at 12 and 18 months. In overall and subgroup samples, average intervention costs were similar in the 3 study arms, and at 18 months, there were no statistically significant differences in direct VA medical costs or total VA costs between treatment arms and usual care.Conclusions
To optimize investment in telephone-based home interventions such as the HINTS, it is important to identify groups of patients who are most likely to benefit from more intensive home BP management.Item Open Access Group physical therapy for knee osteoarthritis: protocol for a hybrid type III effectiveness-implementation trial.(Implementation science communications, 2023-10) Webb, Sara; Drake, Connor; Coffman, Cynthia J; Sullivan, Caitlin; Sperber, Nina; Tucker, Matthew; Zullig, Leah L; Hughes, Jaime M; Kaufman, Brystana G; Pura, John A; Anderson, Livia; Hastings, Susan N; Van Houtven, Courtney H; Abbate, Lauren M; Hoenig, Helen; Ballengee, Lindsay A; Wang, Virginia; Allen, Kelli DBackground
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of chronic pain and disability and one of the most common conditions treated in outpatient physical therapy (PT). Because of the high and growing prevalence of knee OA, there is a need for efficient approaches for delivering exercise-based PT to patients with knee OA. A prior randomized controlled trial (RCT) showed that a 6-session Group Physical Therapy Program for Knee OA (Group PT) yields equivalent or greater improvements in pain and functional outcomes compared with traditional individual PT, while requiring fewer clinician hours per patient to deliver. This manuscript describes the protocol for a hybrid type III effectiveness-implementation trial comparing two implementation packages to support delivery of Group PT.Methods
In this 12-month embedded trial, a minimum of 16 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs) will be randomized to receive one of two implementation support packages for their Group PT programs: a standard, low-touch support based on Replicating Effective Programs (REP) versus enhanced REP (enREP), which adds tailored, high-touch support if sites do not meet Group PT adoption and sustainment benchmarks at 6 and 9 months following launch. Implementation outcomes, including penetration (primary), adoption, and fidelity, will be assessed at 6 and 12 months (primary assessment time point). Additional analyses will include patient-level effectiveness outcomes (pain, function, satisfaction) and staffing and labor costs. A robust qualitative evaluation of site implementation context and experience, as well as site-led adaptations to the Group PT program, will be conducted.Discussion
To our knowledge, this study is the first to evaluate the impact of tailored, high-touch implementation support on implementation outcomes when compared to standardized, low-touch support for delivering a PT-based intervention. The Group PT program has strong potential to become a standard offering for PT, improving function and pain-related outcomes for patients with knee OA. Results will provide information regarding the effectiveness and value of this implementation approach and a deeper understanding of how healthcare systems can support wide-scale adoption of Group PT.Trial registration
This study was registered on March 7, 2022 at ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier NCT05282927 ).Item Open Access Home blood pressure management and improved blood pressure control: results from a randomized controlled trial.(Archives of internal medicine, 2011-07) Bosworth, Hayden B; Powers, Benjamin J; Olsen, Maren K; McCant, Felicia; Grubber, Janet; Smith, Valerie; Gentry, Pamela W; Rose, Cynthia; Van Houtven, Courtney; Wang, Virginia; Goldstein, Mary K; Oddone, Eugene ZBackground
To determine which of 3 interventions was most effective in improving blood pressure (BP) control, we performed a 4-arm randomized trial with 18-month follow-up at the primary care clinics at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center.Methods
Eligible patients were randomized to either usual care or 1 of 3 telephone-based intervention groups: (1) nurse-administered behavioral management, (2) nurse- and physician-administered medication management, or (3) a combination of both. Of the 1551 eligible patients, 593 individuals were randomized; 48% were African American. The intervention telephone calls were triggered based on home BP values transmitted via telemonitoring devices. Behavioral management involved promotion of health behaviors. Medication management involved adjustment of medications by a study physician and nurse based on hypertension treatment guidelines.Results
The primary outcome was change in BP control measured at 6-month intervals over 18 months. Both the behavioral management and medication management alone showed significant improvements at 12 months-12.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6%-24.1%) and 12.5% (95% CI, 1.3%-23.6%), respectively-but not at 18 months. In subgroup analyses, among those with poor baseline BP control, systolic BP decreased in the combined intervention group by 14.8 mm Hg (95% CI, -21.8 to -7.8 mm Hg) at 12 months and 8.0 mm Hg (95% CI, -15.5 to -0.5 mm Hg) at 18 months, relative to usual care.Conclusions
Overall intervention effects were moderate, but among individuals with poor BP control at baseline, the effects were larger. This study indicates the importance of identifying individuals most likely to benefit from potentially resource intensive programs.Trial registration
clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00237692.Item Open Access Identifying Family and Unpaid Caregivers in Electronic Health Records: Descriptive Analysis.(JMIR formative research, 2022-07) Ma, Jessica E; Grubber, Janet; Coffman, Cynthia J; Wang, Virginia; Hastings, S Nicole; Allen, Kelli D; Shepherd-Banigan, Megan; Decosimo, Kasey; Dadolf, Joshua; Sullivan, Caitlin; Sperber, Nina R; Van Houtven, Courtney HBackground
Most efforts to identify caregivers for research use passive approaches such as self-nomination. We describe an approach in which electronic health records (EHRs) can help identify, recruit, and increase diverse representations of family and other unpaid caregivers.Objective
Few health systems have implemented systematic processes for identifying caregivers. This study aimed to develop and evaluate an EHR-driven process for identifying veterans likely to have unpaid caregivers in a caregiver survey study. We additionally examined whether there were EHR-derived veteran characteristics associated with veterans having unpaid caregivers.Methods
We selected EHR home- and community-based referrals suggestive of veterans' need for supportive care from friends or family. We identified veterans with these referrals across the 8 US Department of Veteran Affairs medical centers enrolled in our study. Phone calls to a subset of these veterans confirmed whether they had a caregiver, specifically an unpaid caregiver. We calculated the screening contact rate for unpaid caregivers of veterans using attempted phone screening and for those who completed phone screening. The veteran characteristics from the EHR were compared across referral and screening groups using descriptive statistics, and logistic regression was used to compare the likelihood of having an unpaid caregiver among veterans who completed phone screening.Results
During the study period, our EHR-driven process identified 12,212 veterans with home- and community-based referrals; 2134 (17.47%) veteran households were called for phone screening. Among the 2134 veterans called, 1367 (64.06%) answered the call, and 813 (38.1%) veterans had a caregiver based on self-report of the veteran, their caregiver, or another person in the household. The unpaid caregiver identification rate was 38.1% and 59.5% among those with an attempted phone screening and completed phone screening, respectively. Veterans had increased odds of having an unpaid caregiver if they were married (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.69, 95% CI 1.68-4.34), had respite care (adjusted OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.41-3.41), or had adult day health care (adjusted OR 3.69, 95% CI 1.60-10.00). Veterans with a dementia diagnosis (adjusted OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.00-1.89) or veteran-directed care referral (adjusted OR 1.95, 95% CI 0.97-4.20) were also suggestive of an association with having an unpaid caregiver.Conclusions
The EHR-driven process to identify veterans likely to have unpaid caregivers is systematic and resource intensive. Approximately 60% (813/1367) of veterans who were successfully screened had unpaid caregivers. In the absence of discrete fields in the EHR, our EHR-driven process can be used to identify unpaid caregivers; however, incorporating caregiver identification fields into the EHR would support a more efficient and systematic identification of caregivers.Trial registration
ClincalTrials.gov NCT03474380; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03474380.Item Open Access Implementation of a group physical therapy program for Veterans with knee osteoarthritis.(BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2020-02) Allen, Kelli D; Sheets, Brandon; Bongiorni, Dennis; Choate, Ashley; Coffman, Cynthia J; Hoenig, Helen; Huffman, Kim; Mahanna, Elizabeth P; Oddone, Eugene Z; Van Houtven, Courtney; Wang, Virginia; Woolson, Sandra; Hastings, Susan NBACKGROUND:A previous randomized clinical trial found that a Group Physical Therapy (PT) program for knee osteoarthritis yielded similar improvements in pain and function compared with traditional individual PT. Based on these findings the Group PT program was implemented in a Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System. The objective of this study was to evaluate implementation metrics and changes in patient-level measures following implementation of the Group PT program. METHODS:This was a one-year prospective observational study. The Group PT program involved 6 weekly sessions. Implementation metrics included numbers of referrals and completed sessions. Patient-level measures were collected at the first and last PT sessions and included the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC; self-report of pain, stiffness and function (range 0-96)) and a 30-s chair rise test. RESULTS:During the evaluation period, 152 patients were referred, 80 had an initial session scheduled, 71 completed at least one session and 49 completed at least 5 sessions. The mean number of completed appointments per patient was 4.1. Among patients completing baseline and follow-up measures, WOMAC scores (n = 33) improved from 56.8 (SD = 15.8) to 46.9 (SD = 14.0); number of chair rises (n = 38) completed in 30 s increased from 10.4 (SD = 5.1) to 11.9 (SD = 5.0). CONCLUSIONS:Patients completing the Group PT program in this implementation phase showed clinically relevant improvements comparable to those observed in the previous clinical trial that compared group and individual PT for knee osteoarthritis. These results are important because Group PT can improve efficiency and access compared with individual PT. However, there were some limitations with respect to attendance and completion rates, and program adaptations may be needed to optimize these implementation metrics. Larger, longer-term studies are required to more fully evaluate the effectiveness of this program.Item Open Access Implementation of a stepped wedge cluster randomized trial to evaluate a hospital mobility program.(Trials, 2020-10) Hastings, Susan N; Stechuchak, Karen M; Choate, Ashley; Mahanna, Elizabeth P; Van Houtven, Courtney; Allen, Kelli D; Wang, Virginia; Sperber, Nina; Zullig, Leah; Bosworth, Hayden B; Coffman, Cynthia JBackground
Stepped wedge cluster randomized trials (SW-CRT) are increasingly used to evaluate new clinical programs, yet there is limited guidance on practical aspects of applying this design. We report our early experiences conducting a SW-CRT to examine an inpatient mobility program (STRIDE) in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). We provide recommendations for future research using this design to evaluate clinical programs.Methods
Based on data from study records and reflections from the investigator team, we describe and assess the design and initial stages of a SW-CRT, from site recruitment to program launch in 8 VHA hospitals.Results
Site recruitment consisted of thirty 1-h conference calls with representatives from 22 individual VAs who expressed interest in implementing STRIDE. Of these, 8 hospitals were enrolled and randomly assigned in two stratified blocks (4 hospitals per block) to a STRIDE launch date. Block 1 randomization occurred in July 2017 with first STRIDE launch in December 2017; block 2 randomization occurred in April 2018 with first STRIDE launch in January 2019. The primary study outcome of discharge destination will be assessed using routinely collected data in the electronic health record (EHR). Within randomized blocks, two hospitals per sequence launched STRIDE approximately every 3 months with primary outcome assessment paused during the 3-month time period of program launch. All sites received 6-8 implementation support calls, according to a pre-specified schedule, from the time of recruitment to program launch, and all 8 sites successfully launched within their assigned 3-month window. Seven of the eight sites initially started with a limited roll out (for example on one ward) or modified version of STRIDE (for example, using existing staff to conduct walks until new positions were filled).Conclusions
Future studies should incorporate sufficient time for site recruitment and carefully consider the following to inform design of SW-CRTs to evaluate rollout of a new clinical program: (1) whether a blocked randomization fits study needs, (2) the amount of time and implementation support sites will need to start their programs, and (3) whether clinical programs are likely to include a "ramp-up" period. Successful execution of SW-CRT designs requires both adherence to rigorous design principles and also careful consideration of logistical requirements for timing of program roll out.Trial registration
ClinicalsTrials.gov NCT03300336 . Prospectively registered on 3 October 2017.Item Open Access Implementation of automated reporting of estimated glomerular filtration rate among Veterans Affairs laboratories: a retrospective study.(BMC Med Inform Decis Mak, 2012-07-12) Hall, Rasheeda K; Wang, Virginia; Jackson, George L; Hammill, Bradley G; Maciejewski, Matthew L; Yano, Elizabeth M; Svetkey, Laura P; Patel, Uptal DBACKGROUND: Automated reporting of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is a recent advance in laboratory information technology (IT) that generates a measure of kidney function with chemistry laboratory results to aid early detection of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Because accurate diagnosis of CKD is critical to optimal medical decision-making, several clinical practice guidelines have recommended the use of automated eGFR reporting. Since its introduction, automated eGFR reporting has not been uniformly implemented by U. S. laboratories despite the growing prevalence of CKD. CKD is highly prevalent within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), and implementation of automated eGFR reporting within this integrated healthcare system has the potential to improve care. In July 2004, the VHA adopted automated eGFR reporting through a system-wide mandate for software implementation by individual VHA laboratories. This study examines the timing of software implementation by individual VHA laboratories and factors associated with implementation. METHODS: We performed a retrospective observational study of laboratories in VHA facilities from July 2004 to September 2009. Using laboratory data, we identified the status of implementation of automated eGFR reporting for each facility and the time to actual implementation from the date the VHA adopted its policy for automated eGFR reporting. Using survey and administrative data, we assessed facility organizational characteristics associated with implementation of automated eGFR reporting via bivariate analyses. RESULTS: Of 104 VHA laboratories, 88% implemented automated eGFR reporting in existing laboratory IT systems by the end of the study period. Time to initial implementation ranged from 0.2 to 4.0 years with a median of 1.8 years. All VHA facilities with on-site dialysis units implemented the eGFR software (52%, p<0.001). Other organizational characteristics were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The VHA did not have uniform implementation of automated eGFR reporting across its facilities. Facility-level organizational characteristics were not associated with implementation, and this suggests that decisions for implementation of this software are not related to facility-level quality improvement measures. Additional studies on implementation of laboratory IT, such as automated eGFR reporting, could identify factors that are related to more timely implementation and lead to better healthcare delivery.Item Open Access Prescriber continuity and medication availability in older adults with cardiometabolic conditions.(SAGE Open Med, 2018) Maciejewski, Matthew L; Hammill, Bradley G; Voils, Corrine I; Ding, Laura; Bayliss, Elizabeth A; Curtis, Lesley H; Wang, VirginiaBackground: Many older adults have multiple conditions and see multiple providers, which may impact their use of essential medications. Objective: We examined whether the number of prescribers of these medications was associated with the availability of medications, a surrogate for adherence, to manage diabetes, hypertension or dyslipidemia. Methods: A retrospective cohort of 383,145 older adults with diabetes, hypertension or dyslipidemia in the US Medicare program living in 10 states. The association between the number of prescribers of cardiometabolic medications in 2010 and medication availability (proportion of days with medication on hand) in 2011 was estimated via logistic regression, controlling for patient demographic characteristics and chronic conditions. Results: Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes, hypertension and/or dyslipidemia had an average of five chronic conditions overall, obtained 10-12 medications for all conditions and most often had one prescriber of cardiometabolic medications. In adjusted analyses, the number of prescribers was not significantly associated with availability of oral diabetes agents but having more prescribers is associated with increased medication availability in older Medicare beneficiaries with dyslipidemia or hypertension. Conclusion: The incremental addition of new prescribers may be clinically reasonable for complex patients but creates the potential for coordination problems and informational discontinuity over time. Health systems may want to identify complex patients with multiple prescribers to minimize care fragmentation.Item Open Access Ready, set, go! The role of organizational readiness to predict adoption of a family caregiver training program using the Rogers' diffusion of innovation theory.(Implementation science communications, 2023-06) Van Houtven, Courtney H; Drake, Connor; Malo, Teri L; Decosimo, Kasey; Tucker, Matthew; Sullivan, Caitlin; D'Adolf, Josh; Hughes, Jaime M; Christensen, Leah; Grubber, Janet M; Coffman, Cynthia J; Sperber, Nina R; Wang, Virginia; Allen, Kelli D; Hastings, S Nicole; Shea, Christopher M; Zullig, Leah LBackground
Caregivers FIRST is an evidence-based program addressing gaps in caregivers' skills. In 2020, the Veterans Health Administration Caregiver Support Program (CSP) nationally endorsed Caregivers FIRST, offering credit in leadership performance plans to encourage all VA medical centers (VAMCs) to implement locally. This study examines the association of organizational readiness with VAMC adoption of Caregivers FIRST.Methods
In a cohort observational study, we surveyed CSP managers about their facilities' readiness to implement using the Organizational Readiness for Implementing Change (ORIC) instrument and compared change commitment and change efficacy domains among VAMCs "adopters" defined as delivering Caregivers FIRST within 1 year of the national announcement to those that did not ("non-adopters"). Within "adopters," we categorized time to adoption based on Rogers' diffusion of innovation theory including "innovators," "early adopters," "early majority," "late adopters," and "laggards." Organizational readiness and site characteristics (facility complexity, staffing levels, volume of applications for caregiver assistance services) were compared between "adopters," "non-adopters," and between time to adoption subcategories. Separate logistic regression models were used to assess whether ORIC and site characteristics were associated with early adoption among "adopters."Results
Fifty-one of 63 (81%) VAMCs with CSP manager survey respondents adopted Caregivers FIRST during the first year. ORIC change commitment and efficacy were similar for "adopters" and "non-adopters." However, sites that adopted earlier (innovators and early adopters) had higher ORIC change commitment and efficacy scores than the rest of the "adopters." Logistic regression results indicated that higher ORIC change commitment (odds ratio [OR] = 2.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11-5.95) and ORIC change efficacy (OR = 2.60; 95% CI, 1.12-6.03) scores were associated with increased odds that a VAMC was an early adopter (categorized as an "innovator," "early adopter", or "early majority"). Site-level characteristics were not associated with Caregivers FIRST early adoption.Conclusions
To our knowledge, this study is the first to prospectively assess organizational readiness and the timing of subsequent program adoption. Early adoption was associated with higher ORIC change commitment and change efficacy and not site-level characteristics. These findings yield insights into the role of organizational readiness to accelerate program adoption.Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03474380. Registered on March 22, 2018.Item Open Access Supporting teams to optimize function and independence in Veterans: a multi-study program and mixed methods protocol.(Implementation science : IS, 2018-04) Wang, Virginia; Allen, Kelli; Van Houtven, Courtney H; Coffman, Cynthia; Sperber, Nina; Mahanna, Elizabeth P; Colón-Emeric, Cathleen; Hoenig, Helen; Jackson, George L; Damush, Teresa M; Price, Erika; Hastings, Susan NBACKGROUND:Successful implementation of new clinical programs depends on effectively establishing, reorganizing, or enhancing team structures and processes to coordinate the work of individuals who are interdependent in their tasks, manage relationships, and share responsibility for outcomes. However, a one-size-fits-all approach is rarely effective. In partnership with VA national clinical leaders and local clinical champions, the Optimizing Function and Independence VA Quality Enhancement Research Initiative program (Function QUERI) will evaluate efforts to implement team-based clinical programs for Veterans at risk for functional decline and disability. METHODS:Function QUERI will implement and evaluate three innovative, evidence-based clinical programs in VA medical centers: (1) a group physical therapy program for knee osteoarthritis (Group PT); (2) assisted early mobility for hospitalized older veterans (STRIDE), a supervised walking program for hospitalized older veterans; and (3) implementation of helping invested family members improve veteran experiences study (iHI-FIVES), a skills training program for caregivers of disabled Veterans. A common reason for clinical care gaps in these populations is poor communication and coordination among the many interdisciplinary providers involved in their care. To facilitate the implementation of the clinical programs, Function QUERI will evaluate the impact of complexity science-based implementation intervention to promote team readiness (CONNECT), an implementation intervention designed as a bundle of interaction-oriented activities to promote team function and readiness for change, on the implementation of clinical programs across multiple sites. The evaluation will use a mixed methods design. Group PT is a local, single-site quality improvement project where a modified CONNECT intervention will be tested to inform the remaining program implementation projects. For STRIDE and iHI-FIVES projects, we will randomize participating sites to implement the clinical program, with the CONNECT intervention or not, and will use a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial design. DISCUSSION:Function QUERI will translate its findings across its projects to identify the contextual factors and components from CONNECT that improve team processes and function to optimize effective implementation for future rollout of VA clinical programs. Synthesizing findings within and across projects, we will specify dimensions of team characteristics and function that enhance capacity for clinical innovation and uptake of evidence-based programs. TRIAL REGISTRATION:NCT03300336 Registered September 28, 2017, NCT03474380 Registered March 15, 2018.Item Open Access Trends in Dialysis Industry Consolidation After Medicare Payment Reform, 2006-2016.(JAMA health forum, 2021-11) Sloan, Caroline E; Hoffman, Abby; Maciejewski, Matthew L; Coffman, Cynthia J; Trogdon, Justin G; Wang, VirginiaImportance
The dialysis industry is highly concentrated, with large dialysis organizations now providing dialysis for more than 85% of patients with kidney failure in the United States. In 2011, Medicare introduced a new Prospective Payment System (PPS) for end-stage kidney disease, which bundled payment for dialysis care into 1 payment per patient. Trends in dialysis facility consolidation after the PPS went into effect are unknown.Objective
To determine whether the introduction of the PPS in 2011 was associated with an acceleration in acquisitions and closures of small dialysis chains (<20 facilities) and independently owned facilities.Design setting and participants
This retrospective cohort study included all Medicare-certified independent or small chain-affiliated dialysis facilities in the continental US between 2006 and 2016. Data were obtained from Medicare and the US Renal Data System and were analyzed in 2020.Exposures
The PPS.Main outcomes and measures
Discrete time hazard models were used to estimate the odds of acquisition and closure before the PPS (2006-2010) vs after the PPS (2011-2016). Analyses controlled for facility, market, and regional demographic characteristics. The average predicted marginal probabilities of acquisition and closure over time were estimated.Results
The proportion of small chain-affiliated and independently owned facilities declined from 29% (1383 of 4750 facilities) in 2006 to 15% (1038 of 6738) in 2016. Among 13 481 facility-years, 6352 (47%) were for profit, and mean (SD) census was 68 (59) patients. Overall, 3286 (24%) facilities opened during the observation period. The proportion of acquisitions that occurred each year varied from 1.1% (12 of 1065 facilities in 2015) to 7.2% (86 of 1192 facilities in 2012), while closures varied from 0.8% (9 of 1065 facilities in 2015) to 2.2% (28 of 1286 facilities in 2010), making both fairly rare. There was a 3.48 higher odds of acquisition in the post-PPS period compared with the pre-PPS period (95% CI, 1.62-7.47; P = .001). The odds of closure before and after the PPS were not statistically significantly different (odds ratio, 2.03; 95% CI, 0.61-6.73; P = .25). Facilities that opened during the observation period had a 7.2% higher predicted probability of acquisition compared with older facilities (95% CI, 5.4%-9.0%; P < .001).Conclusions and relevance
In this cohort study of continental US Medicare-certified dialysis facilities, small-chain and independently owned facilities retained a declining share of the dialysis market. Further research should evaluate the effect of continued dialysis market consolidation on patient access, health care utilization, and clinical outcomes.Item Open Access Walking All over COVID-19: The Rapid Development of STRIDE in Your Room, an Innovative Approach to Enhance a Hospital-Based Walking Program during the Pandemic.(Geriatrics (Basel, Switzerland), 2021-11) Hughes, Jaime M; Bartle, John T; Choate, Ashley L; Mahanna, Elizabeth P; Meyer, Cassie L; Tucker, Matthew C; Wang, Virginia; Allen, Kelli D; Van Houtven, Courtney H; Hastings, Susan NicoleHospitalization is common among older adults. Prolonged time in bed during hospitalization can lead to deconditioning and functional impairments. Our team is currently working with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers across the United States to implement STRIDE (assiSTed eaRly mobIlity for hospitalizeD older vEterans), a hospital-based walking program designed to mitigate the risks of immobility during hospitalization. However, the COVID-19 pandemic made in-person, or face-to-face, walking challenging due to social distancing recommendations and infection control concerns. In response, our team applied principles of implementation science, including stakeholder engagement, prototype development and refinement, and rapid dissemination and feedback, to create STRIDE in Your Room (SiYR). Consisting of self-guided exercises, light exercise equipment (e.g., TheraBands, stress ball, foam blocks, pedometer), the SiYR program provided safe alternative activities when face-to-face walking was not available during the pandemic. We describe the methods used in developing the SiYR program; present feedback from participating sites; and share initial implementation experiences, lessons learned, and future directions.