Effect of Patient Priorities Care Implementation in Older Veterans With Multiple Chronic Conditions
Multiple Chronic Conditions, Decision Making, Shared
About this trial
This is an interventional health services research trial for Multiple Chronic Conditions focused on measuring Patient Centered Care, Geriatrics
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- 2 encounters in prior 18 months
- 3 active health problems on active problem list or prescribed 10 medications
Exclusion Criteria:
- nursing home resident
- end stage renal disease on dialysis
- active serious mental illness (psychosis, schizophrenia, etc)
- active substance use disorder
- complete hearing loss
- dementia
- Non-English speaker (translator required)
- 4 or more no-show appointments in the last 6 months
the investigators will present a list of eligible patients to PCPs prior to chart review to identify patients who the PCP:
- a) believes cannot participate independently or provide informed consent due to cognitive impairment
- b) "would not be surprised if the patient passed away within the next 12 months?"
Sites / Locations
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven Campus, West Haven, CTRecruiting
- Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TXRecruiting
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Placebo Comparator
Patient Priorities Care
Usual Care
A facilitator will schedule a PPC facilitation encounter 2-3 weeks before an upcoming PCP visit. The facilitator conducts a structured assessment using a written conversation guide that begins with general questions establishing what is most important to Veterans about their health and moves toward establishing specific goals (actionable outcomes), and what patients are willing/not willing to do to achieve these goals (care preferences). The result is a structured patient priorities report delivered to PCPs designed to facilitate changes in the patient's care plan to align it with his/her priorities. In the subsequent visit, the PCP will use one or more of the established PPC decisional strategies to align care with patients' priorities. Education for PCPs about the facilitation process, the patient priorities report, and the decisional strategies occurs prior to the PCP seeing any intervention patients. The PCP will document changes in care made to achieve the identified priorities.
PCPs will not be alerted when an encounter involves a UC group participant. UC participant visits will appear the same as all other unenrolled patient encounters. UC participants will not receive any additional preparation