Transitions of Care

Question 1

State the percent of all health care utilization by people ≥ 65 years old

Answer 1

36%

Question 2

Identify the 1999 Institute of Medicine estimate of the number of deaths in hospitals each year resulting from medical errors

Answer 2

44,000 – 98,000 Americans die in US hospitals ea year as a result of medication errors

Question 3

State the frequency of communication between hospital physicians and primary care physicians about patients being discharged from the hospital

Answer 3

3-20%

Question 4

State the frequency of the availability of a hospital discharge summary at the first post-discharge visit with the patient’s primary care provider

Answer 4

12-20%

Question 5

State the percent of medication errors in hospitalized patients that occur during a transitional point of care

Answer 5

~ 50%

Question 6

List the five basic principles that should guide redesign of the system of ambulatory medicine

Answer 6

• Reduce reliance on memory
• Improve information access
• Strive for an error-proof system
• Standardize process of care
• Emphasize error avoidance when training medical personnel