Abstract
Background
Although many older adults require skilled nursing facility (SNF) care after acute
hospitalization, it is unclear whether internal medicine residents have sufficient
knowledge of the care that can be provided at this site.
Methods
We developed a 10-item multiple choice pre-test that assessed knowledge of the definition
of a SNF, SNF staffing requirements, and SNF services provided on-site. The test was
administered to trainees on the first day of a mandatory SNF rotation that occurred
during their first, second or third year of training.
Results
Sixty-seven internal medicine residents [41 postgraduate year (PGY)-1, 11 PGY-2, and
15 PGY-3] were assessed with the test. The mean number of questions answered correctly
was 4.9, with a standard deviation of 1.6. Regardless of their level of training,
residents had a poor baseline knowledge of SNF care (mean scores 4.2 for PGY-1, 5.3
for PGY-2, and 6.3 for PGY-3) (P < .0001). Performance on some questions improved with increased level of training
but others did not.
Conclusions
Medical residents have insufficient knowledge about the type of care that can be provided
at a SNF and efforts to improve this knowledge are needed to assure proper triage
of patients and safe transitions to the SNF.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 02, 2014
Identification
Copyright
© 2014 AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
