Guided care reduces costs of elderly care

BALTIMORE, March 19 (UPI) -- Elderly patients who get guided care -- a new form of primary care -- use fewer expensive services than those with regular primary care, U.S. researchers say.

Lead author Dr. Chad Boult of The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health says the study found that after 20 months of a randomized controlled trial, guided care patients experienced, on average, 30 percent fewer home healthcare episodes, 21 percent fewer hospital readmissions, 16 percent fewer skilled nursing facility days and 8 percent fewer skilled nursing facility admissions.

The multi-site, randomized controlled trial of guided care involving 49 physicians, 904 older patients and 319 family members recently concluded in eight locations in the Baltimore-Washington area.

Guided care teams consist of a registered nurse, two to five physicians and the other members of the primary care office staff who work together for the benefit of each patient to:

-- Assess the patient and family caregiver at home.

-- Create an evidence-based care plan and patient-friendly action plan.

-- Monitor the patient's conditions monthly.

-- Promote patient self-management.

-- Coordinate the efforts of all the patient's healthcare providers.

-- Smooth the patient's transition between sites of care.

-- Inform and support family caregivers.

-- Facilitate access to community resources.