Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
-
The objective of this study was to describe the nursing documentation of telephone communication with physicians in community nursing homes. ⋯ In this study, documentation of issues that lead to telephone calls to physicians was not always present. Similarly, orders given by the physician were absent over 20% of the time. Nurses, physicians, and facilities should develop efficient and routine strategies to optimize rates of documentation of telephone communication with physicians.
-
Editorial Comment
End-of-life care in nursing homes: is the glass half empty or half full?
-
Multicenter Study
Preventing assaults by nursing home residents: nursing assistants' knowledge and confidence-a pilot study.
To describe the frequency and context of assaults against nursing assistants (NAs) from residents and to describe NAs' beliefs about their violence prevention knowledge and self-efficacy to prevent assaults from residents. ⋯ These findings provide useful information that supports the need for violence prevention education and for developing violence prevention programs in nursing homes.
-
Comparative Study
Prescription analgesic and antidepressant utilization and cost among elderly Medicaid beneficiaries before and after nursing home admission.
The objectives of this study were to describe changes in prescription analgesic and antidepressant medications and to track the costs associated with these medication changes when elderly Medicaid beneficiaries move from the community to a nursing home setting. ⋯ We draw three major conclusions: (1) community-dwelling elderly Medicaid beneficiaries in this study use more prescription analgesics and antidepressants than community-dwelling elders in prior studies; (2) there is a significant increase in medication utilization and cost on nursing home admission; and (3) significant variability in medication use and cost exists among the three states examined. Further investigation to elucidate the reasons for these differences could assist legislators in formulating sound public policy to contain Medicaid expenditures without sacrificing patient care.