Comorbidity and Integrated Care Flashcards
1
Q
Define: comorbidity
A
The presence of one or more additional disorders co-occuring with a primary disease/disorder
2
Q
What can comorbidity indicate?
A
- A medical condition existing simultaneously but independently with another condition
- A medical condition in a patient that causes, is caused by or is otherwise related to another condition in the same patient
- Two or more medical conditions existing simultaneously regardless of their causal relationship
3
Q
Describe the epidemiology of comorbidity
A
- As age increases, the prevalence of multiple disorders increases
- Those in the most affluent areas have fewer multi-morbidities
- Those with increasing numbers of physical health disorders are more likely to have mental health disorders - could be due to living with a long-term condition
4
Q
Define: polypharmacy
A
Cost effective prescribing + reducing medication errors through methods such as:
- Medication reviews
- Pharmacist + nurse-led interventions to provide education
- Improved systems to support safe transfer of information on patient medication at admission + discharge
5
Q
What are the 4 main themes of the King’s Fund’s priorities?
A
- Systematic + proactive management of chronic diseases
- Empowerment of patients
- Population-based approach to commissioning
- Integrated models of care
6
Q
What are the 10 priorities for commissioners in terms of transforming the healthcare system?
A
- Support for self-management
- Primary prevention
- Secondary prevention
- Reducing admissions for people with ambulatory care sensitive conditions
- Improving management of patients with mental + physical health needs - people with 1 long-term condition are 2-3x more likely to develop depression
- Better co-ordinated + integrated care
- Support the end-of-life care
- Effective medicines management - polypharmacy
- Managing elective activity
- Systematic approach to urgent care
