Date of Award

2015

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Health Administration

College

College of Health Professions

First Advisor

Walter Jones

Second Advisor

William C. Logan

Third Advisor

Kit N. Simpson

Abstract

Background: Evidence suggests that inpatient palliative care consultation (IPC) services improve the likelihood of fewer hospital readmissions for those with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Objective: This study examines the difference in readmission rates for Alzheimer's patients with and without inpatient palliative care consultations. Design: This is a retrospective data analysis using an inception cohort derived from HCUP archival data from the state of Florida for the year 2012: Only acute care patients with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or dementia who were hospitalized for either the dementia condition or because of acute urinary tract infection (UTI), pneumonia, congestive heart failure (CHF) were included in this study. Methods: Analyses were performed using SAS v 9.3. Mean values and percentages were used for description and population. Differences between groups were tested using chi-square and t-test or non-parametric statistics as appropriate. Multivariable modeling was performed using logistic regression. Results: Of the 7308 patients in our study, 1266 (17.3%) were readmitted within 30 days. However, only 1.9% of the readmitted patients received and inpatient palliative care consultation during the index admission. Conclusions: Inpatient palliative care consultations do positively affect the hospital readmissions rates for those with Alzheimer's and dementia.

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