Date of Conferral
2020
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Health Services
Advisor
Dr. Michael Furukawa
Abstract
More than 70 million Americans aged 50 years and older suffer from at least 1 or more chronic condition and use the emergency department frequently. By 2025, chronic illness will affect an estimated 164 million Americans or nearly 49% of the population. The rapid rise in chronic illness is due to a combination of an aging population, longer life expectancies, and poor lifestyle choices. This quantitative study provided a statistical analysis on the impact of care management on readmissions among African Americans between the ages of 65 and 80, with diabetes, hypertension, asthma, or multiple chronic conditions. Logistic regression was used to address the gap in the literature on unplanned readmission for an elderly population living in an urban community. The chronic care model was used as the theoretical framework of a systematic approach to improve relationships between patients and the clinical team. Retrospective data analysis (n = 577) from the years 2016–2018 supported a predictive association between care management and lower rates of readmission for an at-risk population. Findings from the analysis showed care management had a significant impact and positive association for diabetes, hypertension, and multiple chronic conditions. The asthma cohort had minimal association with care management due to other outside therapeutic resources. Factors that affect poverty in neighborhoods, living alone, and aging can affect a patient’s chance of being readmitted, however, the linkage of care management provides an alternative to improve social change by reducing psychological, physical, and financial stress for readmissions.
Recommended Citation
Salmon, Vivien Lyn, "Care Management and Readmission among Elderly African American Patients with Chronic Illnesses" (2020). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 8576.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/8576
