Decoding Homelessness: Z-Codes and the Recognition of Homelessness as a Comorbid Condition.

There are an estimated 653,100 people across the United States experiencing homelessness. Homelessness is an important social determinant of health associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of homelessness among hospitalized patients is substantially higher than the community prevalence, and people experiencing homelessness (PEH) are more likely to be admitted to the hospital and have longer length of stays and higher healthcare costs relative to stably housed patients.

Improving Identification of Patients Experiencing Homelessness in the Electronic Health Record: A Curated Registry Approach.

Background: Identification of persons experiencing homelessness (PEH) within healthcare systems is critical to facilitate patient and population-level interventions to address health inequities.

Objective: We created an enhanced electronic health record (EHR) registry to improve identification of PEH within a safety net healthcare system.

Design: We compared patients identified as experiencing homelessness in 2021, stratified by method of identification (i.

Prevalence of homelessness among hospitalized patients: A point-in-time survey.

Although homelessness is associated with increased acute healthcare utilization and poorer health outcomes, the prevalence of homelessness and housing insecurity in hospitalized patients is poorly characterized. We conducted an in-person survey to determine the prevalence of housing insecurity and homelessness among hospitalized patients at two hospitals in metropolitan Denver in conjunction with the Housing and Urban Development point-in-time count on January 24, 2022. Of the 271 surveyed patients, 79 (29.

Perspectives of Latinx Individuals Who Were Unvaccinated And Hospitalized for COVID-19: A Qualitative Study.

Importance: Latinx individuals in the United States have lower COVID-19 vaccination rates and higher rates of COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths than non-Latinx White individuals. Little is known about the perspectives of Latinx adults who had not received the COVID-19 vaccination and were hospitalized for COVID-19.

Objective: To describe the perspectives of Latinx individuals who were unvaccinated and subsequently hospitalized for COVID-19.

What Do Patients Want? A Qualitative Analysis of Patient, Provider, and Administrative Perceptions and Expectations About Patients' Hospital Stays.

Patient experience is increasingly recognized as a measure of health care quality and patient-centered care and is currently measured through the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS). The HCAHPS survey may miss key factors important to patients, and in particular, to underserved patient populations. We performed a qualitative study utilizing semi-structured interviews with 45 hospitalized English- and Spanish-speaking patients and 6 focus groups with physicians, nurses, and administrators at a large, urban safety-net hospital.

The effect of eye images and a social norms message on healthcare provider hand hygiene adherence.

Background: Depictions of eye images and messages encouraging compliance with social norms have successfully motivated behavioral change in a variety of experimental and applied settings. We studied the effect of these 2 visual cues on hand hygiene adherence in a cohort of hospital-based healthcare providers participating in an electronic monitoring and feedback program.

Methods: Prospective, quasi-experimental study utilizing an interrupted time-series design.

Barriers to Early Hospital Discharge: A Cross-Sectional Study at Five Academic Hospitals.

Background: Understanding the issues delaying hospital discharges may inform efforts to improve hospital throughput.

Objective: This study was conducted to identify and determine the frequency of barriers contributing to delays in placing discharge orders.

Design: This was a prospective, cross-sectional study.

Postdischarge telephone calls by hospitalists as a transitional care strategy.

Objectives: To determine whether treating hospitalists can identify and address early postdischarge problems through a structured telephone call.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

Methods: We studied patients insured through a managed care program who were discharged from a general internal medicine service of a university-affiliated public safety net hospital (Denver Health Medical Center) between March 1, 2012, and October 31, 2013.

Effects of a Syndrome-Specific Antibiotic Stewardship Intervention for Inpatient Community-Acquired Pneumonia.

 Syndrome-specific interventions are a recommended approach to antibiotic stewardship, but additional data are needed to understand their potential impact. We implemented an intervention to improve the management of inpatient community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and evaluated its effects on antibiotic and resource utilization.  A stakeholder group developed and implemented a clinical practice guideline and order set for inpatient, non-intensive care unit CAP recommending a short course (5 days) of a fluoroquinolone-sparing antibiotic regimen in uncomplicated cases.

Postdischarge problems identified by telephone calls to an advice line.

Background: Problems experienced after hospital discharge can result in rehospitalizations and unscheduled urgent and emergent care.

Objective: To identify opportunities for improving discharge processes by examining calls to an advice line (AL).

Design: Prospective cohort.

Prospective comparison of curbside versus formal consultations.

Background: Curbside consultations are commonly requested during the care of hospitalized patients, but physicians perceive that the recommendations provided may be based on inaccurate or incomplete information.

Objective: To compare the accuracy and completeness of the information received from providers requesting a curbside consultation of hospitalists with that obtained in a formal consultation on the same patients, and to examine whether the recommendations offered in the 2 consultations differed.

Design: Prospective cohort.