Health Policy Research Update
Patient complaints are an accurate gauge of the quality of care at nursing homes and could be used to identify deficiencies in advance of formal surveys and inspections, according to a study in the journal Medical Care Research and Review. Long-term care facilities that pay attention to complaints might be able to predict the problems that quality surveys typically find and begin addressing them sooner, the study concludes.
Also included in this week's health policy research update are summaries and links to studies examining:
- The cost of treating patients with multiple chronic conditions;
- State laws mandating hospital community benefits; and
- A health intervention program provided to people living in transitional housing.