Home health providers may not be fully clued in on their patients’ dementia diagnoses, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society on May 2.  
 
The study reviewed OASIS data and documentation for over 1.3 million Medicare beneficiaries receiving in-home care. It found that approximately 30% of these patients were diagnosed with dementia, but more than two-thirds of these patients did not have their diagnosis documented during care.   
 
This issue can impact care delivery and patient outcomes, the study authors note. For example, they found that individuals with undocumented dementia diagnoses often saw a longer length of stay and a boosted risk of rehospitalization or ED use. They also reported that these patients were less likely to receive social work interventions or discharge to self-care.  
 
Gaps in communication, including issues with information transfer or patients not reporting their diagnosis, may contribute to these breakdowns, the study authors add.  
 
View the study at https://bit.ly/3YtOIIt.