Hospitals in pursuit of excellence

Better Outcomes for Older Adults through Safe Transitions (BOOST) at SSM Saint Mary’s Medical Center

SSM Saint Mary’s Medical Center
Saint Louis, MO
374 Beds

The Problem
Better Outcomes for Older Adults through Safe Transitions (BOOST) is a discharge-focused program from the Society of Hospital Medicine.

The Solution
Following BOOST protocols based on aggregate data analysis, geriatric patients were “BOOSTed” upon admission, their charts flagged and names added to a unit white board so that all providers can track that patient’s care. Prior to discharge, which is completed both by a nurse and physician, the providers make patient rounds and perform “teach back” – where a patient has to describe the important steps they have to complete back to the providers to gauge understanding. Upon discharge, all important points of patient information such as diagnosis, tests performed, medication prescribed and future appointments, are captured into a patient-friendly, one page document.

Organizations are reimbursed on a diagnosis-related group level or fee-for-service, depending on the payer. The BOOST toolkit is available through the Society of Hospital Medicine.

The Result
Programs have found lower numbers of unnecessary readmissions (12 percent to 7 percent), reduced preventable emergency department visits and increased patient satisfaction (52 percent to 68 percent).

This case study was originally featured in the HPOE guide: "Caring for Vulnerable Populations," published January, 2012.