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Biomedical subjects

B E Fries

Publications and source records attributed to B E Fries.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Predictors of the placement of cognitively impaired residents on special care units.

Nursing homes that have both special care units (SCUs) and traditional units were examined to determine the factors that cause homes to place cognitively impaired residents on the specialized units. Wandering, other problem behaviors, and Medicaid status were not significant predictors of placement. Logistic regression results indicated that functional status was the critical placement factor.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1992

The accuracy of the National Death Index when personal identifiers other than Social Security number are used.

This study analyzed the accuracy of the National Death Index when personal identifiers were used that included or excluded Social Security number. Computerized records of the Department of Veterans Affairs were used for comparison. Different combinations of identifiers other than Social Security number correctly identified from 83 to 92 percent of dead and 92 to 99 percent of living persons. These results should prove useful in ascertaining the mortality status of patient populations without information on Social Security numbers.

Databases, Factual↗
PubMed1991

International comparison of long-term care: the need for resident-level classification.

Differences between long-term care facilities in Stockholm (1134 residents) and New York (95,000 residents statewide) were examined. The comparison employed a resident classification system, Resource Utilization Groups (RUG-II), which links individuals' characteristics to resource use. Distributions of Activity of Daily Living functionality and RUG-II categories demonstrated significant differences between these two populations, with the Stockholm facilities more akin to the heavier care skilled nursing facilities in New York. These differences may indicate different uses of long-term care beds in the United States and Sweden and demonstrate the need for resident-level classification systems in cross-national studies.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1990

A classification system for long-staying psychiatric patients.

Data on a sample of 890 Veteran's Administration long-staying psychiatric patients were studied to develop a classification system that explains actual daily resource use. Disturbed patients with lengths of stay of less than three years and those with psychotic conditions who are not withdrawn represent the two groups found to use significantly more resources in their daily care. The Long-Stay Psychiatric Patient Classification (LPPC) System, with six categories, explains 11.4% of the variability in per diem resource use and can be used for case-mix adjustment of payments for psychiatric care.

Data Interpretation, Statistical↗
PubMed1979

The effect of delay rules in controlling unscheduled visits to hospitals.

The increased demand of unscheduled visits to hospital outpatient facilities, and particularly to walk-in clinics, necessitates the consideration of means to control this flow and to reduce in-hospital waiting times. A model is developed in which a percentage of the unscheduled visits are assumed to be delayable, e.g., patients with non-urgent complaints who call may be asked to delay their arrivals for specified lengths of time. A simple rule for determining, dynamically, the length of this delay was examined by computer simulation. The results demonstrate significant reduction of in-facility waiting times while only marginally increasing the time patients wait from their initial contact with the clinic until seen by a practitioner.

Appointments and Schedules↗
PubMed1978

A delay-scheduling model for patients using a walk-in clinic.

Clinics receiving unscheduled visits experience wide fluctuations in the number of patients present at any one time, due to random arrival of patients and variations in the time needed for the evaluation and treatment. This can cause periods of congestion and long patient waiting times. Using a flexible technique for "delay scheduling," a study was conducted to determine the most efficient use of limited physician resources in the management of patients using a walk-in clinic. Delay scheduling makes it possible to shift work load from periods of high congestion to other times without compromising the walk-in nature of the clinic. A computer simulation model was used to evaluate the clinic performance with different physician staffing patterns and different rules for delay scheduling. The model was validated using actual data from the walk-in clinic and the results implemented. The delay scheduling and staffing changes resulted in reduction of manpower by 10% while significantly reducing the clinic-accountable waiting time.

Appointments and Schedules↗