Journal of general internal medicine
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The Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) care model, a care coordination program for patients experiencing a fragility fracture, is proven to improve management of patients with an osteoporotic fracture, but treatment initiation gaps persist. ⋯ An FLS including centralized outreach and care coordination significantly improved patient follow-up, DXA, and medication initiation. Addition of de-centralized pharmacist consultation further improved medication initiation rates.
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Observational Study
Health Conditions and Treatment Utilization Among Older Male Veterans Incarcerated in Prisons.
More than 50,000 older male veterans incarcerated in prisons are expected to return to their communities and utilize the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and community healthcare systems. To support the continuity of healthcare and overall successful community reentry of older incarcerated veterans, an understanding of their health profiles and treatment utilization while in correctional care is needed. ⋯ Our results suggest that the VHA and community healthcare systems need to be prepared to address medical and disability conditions among the majority of older male veterans who will be leaving prison and returning to their communities. Integrated medical and behavioral healthcare delivery models may be especially important for these veterans as many did not receive behavioral health treatment while in prison.
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Spirituality is an important component of social and cultural identity that influences health-related beliefs, decision-making, and coping behaviors. Despite the importance of addressing spirituality in healthcare, research about its impact is limited, especially in the primary care setting. ⋯ Spiritual care, when integrated into the primary care setting, has the potential, according to the report of our informants, to help achieve important health-related objectives, such as increased trust in their providers, sustained healthy behavior change, and happiness in spite of chronic illness. Now, more than ever, when our society is hurting from mistrust of our profession secondary to disinformation and discrimination, spiritual care has an important role to play in our efforts to gain our patients' trust so that we can support their healing.
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Little is known about how to best evaluate, diagnose, and treat long COVID, which presents challenges for patients as they seek care. ⋯ Our findings shed light on challenges faced by patients with long COVID as they seek care. Healthcare systems and providers should consider these challenges when developing strategies to improve care coordination for patients with long COVID.