Impact of the 2015 CMS Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Quality Reporting Rule on Tobacco Treatment.

Introduction: In its fiscal year 2015 final rule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) required reporting of tobacco treatment quality measures as part of the Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Prospective Payment System (IPF PPS). This pre-intervention, post-intervention policy analysis evaluates the impact of that policy at a large academic medical center that opted to improve performance as it implemented reporting measures.

Methods: Electronic medical record data were collected retrospectively for all adult (≥18 years) inpatient psychiatric admissions from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2015.

Improving Quality of Care for Hospitalized Smokers with HIV: Tobacco Dependence Treatment Referral and Utilization.

Background: Most persons living with HIV smoke cigarettes and tend to be highly dependent, heavy smokers. Few such persons receive tobacco treatment, and many die from tobacco-related illness. Although advancements in antiretroviral therapy (ART) have increased the quality and quantity of life, the health harms from tobacco use diminish these gains.

Effects of a hospitalwide pharmacy practice model change on readmission and return to emergency department rates.

Purpose: The impact of an innovative medication reconciliation and discharge education program on 30-day readmissions and emergency department (ED) visits was evaluated.

Methods: An observational pre-post analysis was conducted at an academic medical center to compare rates of hospital readmissions and return to ED visits during three-month periods before and after implementation of a restructured pharmacy practice model including (1) medication reconciliation at transitions of care for every patient and discharge education for a high-risk subgroup, (2) new or expanded services in the preanesthesia testing clinic and ED, (3) a medication reconciliation technician team, and (4) pharmacist-to-patient ratios of 1:30 on acute care floors and 1:18 on critical care units. The primary outcome was the composite of rates of readmissions and return to ED visits within 30 days of discharge.