Summaries of Independent Scientist (K) Awards

Moore, Carlton

Institution: Mount Sinai School of Medicine of New York University (NYU), and University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Grant Title: Discharge Summary Availability and Discontinuity Errors
Grant Number:  K08 HS14020
Duration: 4 years (2006-2010)
Total Award: $505,000

Project Description: This project had three main aims:

1. Conduct a nationally representative survey of hospitals to identify the current systems used to communicate hospital discharge information and their perceived efficacy.
2. Perform a time series cohort study to measure and compare the frequency of discontinuity errors that occur after hospitalization before and after implementation of a Web-based system to disseminate discharge summaries to outpatients primary care physicians (PCPs).
3. Take advantage of a natural experiment to perform an interrupted time series cohort study to measure and compare the frequency of medical errors before and after implementation of an enhanced computerized discharge summary system.

Career Goals: Dr. Moore is an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. Prior to this appointment in 2007, he was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. He received his MD from Cornell University Medical School and served his residency in Internal Medicine at Mount Sinai. Dr. Moore was also a Fellow in Medical Informatics at Mount Sinai.

Progress to Date: This grant has been completed. The research findings indicated that communication of patients' clinical information during transitions of care is inadequate and may lead to adverse events. Dr. Moore found patients are frequently discharged from the hospital with unresolved medical problems requiring outpatient workups, many of which are not completed. Additional 11% of patients had abnormal test results that became known after hospital discharge.

Future Plans: Dr. Moore will continue conducting research on transitional care and comparative effectiveness.

Highlights and Specific Accomplishments:

• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Minority Medical Faculty Development Award, 2003.
• Newman Research Award, 1999.

K-Generated Publications:

Lin J, Alfandre D, Moore C. I feel your pain: Physician attitudes toward opiate prescribing for patients with chronic non-malignant pain. Clinical Journal of Pain 2007. 23(9):799-803.

Moore C, Lin J, McGinn T, Halm E. Factors associated with time to follow-up of severe hyperkalemia in the ambulatory setting. American Journal of Medical Quality 2007. 22(6):428-37.

Moore C, McGinn T, Halm EA. Tying up loose end: Discharging patient with unresolved medical issues. Archives of Internal Medicine 2007 167(12):1305-11.

Moore C, Lin J, O'Connor N, Halm E. Follow-up of markedly elevated serum potassium results in the ambulatory setting: Implications for patient safety. American Journal of Medical Quality 2006. 21(2):115-24.

Moore C, Siu A, Maroney C, et al. Factors associated with reductions in patients' analgesia at hospital discharge. Journal of Palliative Medicine 2006. 9(1):41-9.

Lin J, Dunn A, Moore C. Follow-up of outpatient test results: A survey of housestaff practices and perceptions. American Journal of Medical Quality 2006. 21(3):178-84.

Morrison RS, Meier DE, Fischberg D, Moore C, et al. Improving the management of pain in hospitalized adults. Archives of Internal Medicine 2006. 166:1033-39.

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