Project BOOST®: A Comprehensive Program to Improve Discharge Coordination for Geriatric Patients

Hospital discharge is often a stressful and hazardous venture for patients and their caregivers, especially for older adults with complex medical needs. Unfortunately, the discontinuity and fragmentation of care commonly associated with hospitalization generate tangible risks of harm to patients and cause significant caregiver stress. Among chronically ill older adults, these system issues have been linked to poor patient ratings of the care experience and further declines in health status. Sadly, some populations suffer more, and African American Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries have comparatively higher rehospitalization rates. Adults living in poverty, coping with limited or absent social support, and challenged by low health literacy or English language deficits are also among subgroups who have demonstrated poorer outcomes resulting from care transitions.