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National Healthcare Disparities Report - LDI Health Economist

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Care Coordination<br />

Also, in the NHQR:<br />

n Overall, rehospitalization rates did not vary by age. In some individual States, however, rates were<br />

higher among patients age 65 and over compared with patients ages 18-64.<br />

Chapter 6<br />

Medication Information<br />

Patients often seek care from many providers, and different providers may prescribe medications for the same<br />

patient. Patients are responsible for keeping track of all their medications, but medication information can be<br />

confusing, especially for patients on multiple medications. When care is not well coordinated and some providers<br />

do not know about all of a patient’s medications, patients are at greater risk for adverse events related to drug<br />

interactions, overdosing, or underdosing. In addition, providers need to periodically review all of a patient’s<br />

medications to ensure that they are taking what is needed and only what is needed. Medication reconciliation has<br />

been shown to reduce both medication errors and adverse drug events (Whittington & Cohen, 2004).<br />

Management: Provider Asking About Medications From Other Doctors<br />

Medication information generated in different settings may not be sent to a patient’s primary care provider. In<br />

the absence of communication from other providers, the patient is the primary source of medication<br />

information. Actively gathering and managing all of a patient’s medical information is an important part of<br />

care coordination.<br />

Figure 6.5. People with a usual source of care whose health provider usually asks about prescription<br />

medications and treatments from other doctors, by race and activity limitations, United States, 2002-2008<br />

100<br />

White<br />

Black<br />

Asian<br />

NHOPI<br />

AI/AN<br />

>1 Race<br />

100<br />

Basic<br />

Complex<br />

Neither Basic Nor Complex<br />

90<br />

90<br />

Percent<br />

80<br />

Percent<br />

80<br />

70<br />

70<br />

60<br />

60<br />

50<br />

Z<br />

50<br />

Z<br />

0<br />

2002<br />

2003<br />

2004<br />

2005<br />

2006<br />

2007<br />

2008<br />

0<br />

2002<br />

2003<br />

2004<br />

2005<br />

2006<br />

2007<br />

2008<br />

Key: AI/AN = American Indian or Alaska Native, NHOPI = Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander.<br />

Source: Agency for <strong><strong>Health</strong>care</strong> Research and Quality, Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, Medical Expenditure Panel<br />

Survey, 2002-2008.<br />

Denominator: Civilian noninstitutionalized population who report a usual source of care.<br />

Note: Data for NHOPIs were insufficient for analysis except in 2004 and 2005.<br />

186 <strong>National</strong> <strong><strong>Health</strong>care</strong> <strong>Disparities</strong> <strong>Report</strong>, 2011

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