Age-Friendly Health Systems Case Studies: Diagnostic Excellence
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) has released two case studies with findings from grant recipients in its Diagnostic Excellence – Age-Friendly Health Systems (DxEx–AFHS) Seed Grant Program.
Each of the programs tested new interventions and practices aligning with the Age-Friendly Health Systems (AFHS) 4Ms Framework (What Matters, Medication, Mentation, Mobility) to improve diagnosis for older adults and reduce the burden of diagnostic error and delay.
"Diagnostic Excellence Through Culturally Sensitive Partnerships" describes how Native Healthcare Center, a nonprofit headquartered in Houston, TX, improved diagnostic excellence for Native American older adults by integrating culturally responsive approaches into the diagnostic process using the 4Ms Framework. The case study describes how community health fairs, Talking Circles with community elders, and outreach by patient navigators and community health workers helped build trust, improve communication, and better align diagnosis and care with older adults' cultural values and preferences.
"Diagnostic Excellence Through Partnership with Older Adults and Caregivers" highlights how Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, a hospital in Hershey, PA, and The Cedars, a nonprofit older adult living community in Portland, ME, engaged with older adults, families and caregivers to improve diagnostic excellence. The case study describes how Penn State used human-centered design and clinician text alerts to improve the diagnosis of polypharmacy and reduce medication burden, while The Cedars used risk stratification tools and a Patient and Family Advisory Committee to better identify clinical deterioration and reduce rehospitalizations. These efforts helped build trust, strengthen communication, and align diagnosis and care with what matters most to older adults within these communities.
Access more case studies and AFHS resources from IHI.
Learn more about Age-Friendly Health Systems.
Learn more about the DxEx–AFHS Seed Grant Program.
Learn more about JAHF's support of the Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative.
Learn more about JAHF's co-support of the DxEx–AFHS Seed Grant Program.
