Effect of a Community-based Nursing Intervention on Mortality in Chronically Ill Older Adults

Care coordination, disease management, geriatric care management, and preventive programs for chronically ill older adults vary in design and their impact on long-term health outcomes is not well established. This study investigates whether a community-based nursing intervention improves longevity and impact on cardiovascular risk factors in this population. The results reflect the impact of one of the study sites (Health Quality Partners) selected by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to participate in the Medicare Coordinated Care Demonstration, a national demonstration designed to identify promising models of care coordination for chronically ill older adults. The study began in April 2002.

The community-based nursing care management model developed by Health Quality Partners represents a comprehensive set of integrated preventive and monitoring services designed for older adults living with chronic diseases. The individual programs and services integrated within the model were selected on the basis of previously demonstrated evidence of effectiveness. The model is delivered in the communities in which participants reside. Care is delivered through in person contacts, (1 to 1 and group) as well as by telephone. In person contacts occur in the home, in readily accessible community and faith-based organizations, health facilities, or the offices of Health Quality Partners. Efforts are made to contact participants in the intervention group at least monthly with care continued until death, voluntary disenrollment, mandatory disenrollment due to changes in insurance coverage, relocation out of the service area, or change in long term level of care (e.g., nursing home placement, hospice).