Nursing home finances associated with real estate investment trust and private equity investments.

In 2021, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and private equity (PE) held investments in 1915 (16%) and 1569 (13%) US nursing homes (NHs), respectively. We created a database of REIT and PE investments in NHs, merged it with Medicare Cost Report data (2011-2019), and used a difference-in-differences approach within an event-study framework to compare NH spending and financial performance before and after REIT or PE investment to NHs that did not receive REIT or PE investment. REIT investments were associated with higher total wages (3%), total nursing wages (3%; both logged, per resident day [PRD]), and current ratio (81%).

Evaluation of a Telehealth-Enabled Pilot Program to Address Intensive Care Unit Health Care Worker Mental Health Distress.

Introduction: Health care workers (HCWs) are at heightened risk of adverse mental health events (AMHEs) and burnout with resultant impact on health care staffing, outcomes, and costs. We piloted a telehealth-enabled mental health screening and support platform among HCWs in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting at a tertiary care center.

Methods: A survey consisting of validated screening tools was electronically disseminated to a potential cohort of 178 ICU HCWs.

Do Hospitals Providing Telehealth in Emergency Departments Have Lower Emergency Department Costs?

Since 2003, the University of Mississippi Medical Center has operated a robust telehealth emergency department (ED) network, TelEmergency, which enhances access to emergency medicine-trained physicians at participating rural hospitals. TelEmergency was developed as a cost-control measure for financially constrained rural hospitals to improve access to quality, emergency care. However, the literature remains unclear as to whether ED telehealth services can be provided at lower costs compared with traditional in-person ED services.

Determinants of Evidence-based Practice Uptake in Rural Intensive Care Units. A Mixed Methods Study.

Evidence-based practices promote quality care for intensive care unit patients but chronic evidence-to-practice gaps limit their reach. To characterize key determinants of evidence-based practice uptake in the rural intensive care setting. A parallel convergent mixed methods design was used with six hospitals receiving a quality improvement intervention.

Population Health Indicators Associated with a Statewide Telestroke Program.

Studies show that telestroke (TS) improves rural access to care and outcome for stroke patients receiving TS services, but population health impacts of TS are not known. We examine impacts associated with South Carolina's (SC) statewide TS network on an entire state population of patients suffering acute ischemic stroke (AIS) as TS became available across SC counties. A population health study using Donabedian's conceptual model and an ecological design to describe the change observed over time in use of thrombolysis and endovascular therapy (EVT) as the SC TeleStroke Network (SCTN) diffused across SC counties.

Exploring the Determinants of Risky Sexual Behavior Among Ethnically Diverse University Students: the Student Behavioral Health Survey-Web.

Universities create policies and develop programs to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Unfortunately, most historically Black colleges and Hispanic-serving institutions have limited information about student practices and program effectiveness. This study examined the prevalence and determinants of risky sex among students attending a Hispanic-serving university.

Impact of Telemedicine on Mortality, Length of Stay, and Cost Among Patients in Progressive Care Units: Experience From a Large Healthcare System.

Objectives: To determine whether Telemedicine intervention can affect hospital mortality, length of stay, and direct costs for progressive care unit patients.

Design: Retrospective observational.

Setting: Large healthcare system in Florida.