Chronic DiseaseComplexPtNCT01458184
Study of PhoneCare System to Treat Patients With Chronic Diseases
A study testing PhoneCare system in people with Chronic Disease, run by Boston Medical Center at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of Telephone-Linked Care for Complex Patients (TLC-C) in the care of patients with complex health care needs. These are patients frequently transitioning from inpatient to ambulatory care with multiple chronic diseases that tend to lead to increased health-care… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Chronic Disease
- What is being tested?
- PhoneCare system
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 264 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- Sep 2008to Apr 2013
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- age 18 years or more
- on one of Boston Medical Center (BMC)'s general medical services with an unscheduled hospitalization
- has a primary care provider in the BMC General Internal Medicine (GIM) practice or Family Medicine practice or is willing to be assigned a primary care physician (PCP) at BMC GIM or Family Medicine practice upon discharge
- once discharged, patient is planning to continue his/her primary care at BMC for the next 6 months
- communicates in English adequately to participate
Who cannot join
- patients who are admitted from hospice, nursing home or another institutional setting
- patients who are in police custody or have a suicide sitter
- patients who cannot use a telephone unassisted or who do not have regular access to either a land line or cellular telephone for the next 6 months
- patients unwilling to accept calls to his/her phone for the next 6 months
- patients currently enrolled in this study or in the RED-Lit trial
- patients unable to independently consent to participate
- patients who have sickle cell anemia
- patients responding positively to the question on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) regarding suicidal ideation
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: A Randomized Trial of the PhoneCare System to Improve Ambulatory Care for Patients With Chronic Diseases
The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of Telephone-Linked Care for Complex Patients (TLC-C) in the care of patients with complex health care needs. These are patients frequently transitioning from inpatient to ambulatory care with multiple chronic diseases that tend to lead to increased health-care utilization and other socio-economic vulnerabilities. The objective is to reduce preventable hospital utilization, improve quality of life, increase satisfaction with ambulatory care, improve disease-specific metrics, and reduce net payer costs.
Read the detailed description
TLC-C is a modification of an existing TLC-Multi-Disease system that targets patients with multiple chronic diseases combined with a post-hospital discharge intervention (TLC-RED-Lit). TLC-C uses conversational computer telephony to monitor patients' multiple diseases between their ambulatory care visits. The system works in both routine (patient stable) and exacerbation (patient unstable) modes. The system monitors patients through "virtual visits" and detects and notifies clinicians about important clinical problems to attend to. It also promotes patient self-care (e.g., medication adherence and appointment preparation). In emergent situations the system recommends going to the local Emergency Department (ED). In urgent situations, an alert is sent to the clinician or to his/her coverage provider. Exacerbation mode is used when the patient is discharged from a hospital inpatient service or ED or has worsening symptoms. It concentrates on the exacerbating disease and monitors patient status (improved, stable or deteriorating). Daily contact is maintained until the patient's status improves. Routine mode occurs with the patient at their baseline status and monitors the disease and the patients' self-care behaviors.
The investigators propose to perform a multi-method evaluation study of the patients, the providers, and the practice. This includes a 2-arm randomized clinical trial of TLC-C versus usual care for patients with two or more chronic diseases, at least one previous episode of acute hospital utilization over the last 12 months, and who had been recently discharged from an urban hospital. The randomized clinical trial (RCT) will evaluate the system in 440 patients followed for 6 months.
The primary outcome is acute hospital care utilization (unplanned hospitalizations and ED visits). Secondary outcomes include patient quality of life (EuroQol 5D [EQ-5D]), satisfaction (Clinician and Group Survey [G-CAHPS]), ambulatory appointment show rate and net payer costs. The investigators will explore disease specific metrics (e.g., hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c] or blood pressure). The investigators will perform formative and summative qualitative studies of the implementation of the system, its use and performance over time, and its impact on the patients, providers and the practice as a whole.
- Conditions
- Chronic Disease
- Being tested
- PhoneCare system
- Keywords
- risk factors for complications, precarious medical situations
- Medical subject headings
- Chronic Disease
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
PhoneCare systemBehavioural
Also called TLC-C
The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of Telephone-Linked Care for Complex Patients (TLC-C) in the care of patients with complex health care needs. TLC-C uses conversational computer telephony to monitor patients' multiple diseases between their ambulatory care visits. The system monitors patients through "virtual visits" and detects and notifies clinicians about important clinical problems to attend to. It also promotes patient self-care (e.g., medication adherence and appointment preparation).
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| PhoneCare system | Experimental | This arm is evaluating whether utilizing the PhoneCare system aids participants with their complex health care needs. Receives: Behavioral: PhoneCare system |
| Control Group: without PhoneCare System | No intervention | Subjects in this arm will receive the usual care. Usual care is defined as receiving regular care from their physicians and no additional care or intervention from the study. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Acute Hospital Care Utilization
Measured: 3 months
Acute Hospital Care Utilization
Measured: 6 months
Secondary outcomes (5)
Patient Quality of Life
Measured: 3 months
Ambulatory Appointment Show Rate
Measured: 3 months
Patient Quality of Life
Measured: 6 months
Patient Satisfaction
A validated, in-house designed questionnaire will be administered to subjects to assess their satisfaction with the TLC system.
Measured: 6 months
Ambulatory Appointment Show Rate
Measured: 6 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Oct 2011 (estimated)
- Study startSep 2008
- Primary completionApr 2013
- Study completionApr 2013
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (9)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Chronic DiseaseStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Boston Medical CenterThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 264 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Boston Medical Center
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Brian Jack, MD, Principal investigator, Boston Medical Center
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01458184
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- H-27747
- Acronym
- ComplexPt
- Status last verified
- Apr 2013
- First submitted
- 29 Jun 2011
- Last updated
- 8 Apr 2013
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
Publications
Marcantonio ER, McKean S, Goldfinger M, Kleefield S, Yurkofsky M, Brennan TA. Factors associated with unplanned hospital readmission among patients 65 years of age and older in a Medicare managed care plan. Am J Med. 1999 Jul;107(1):13-7. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9343(99)00159-x.
PubMed 10403347Wolff JL, Starfield B, Anderson G. Prevalence, expenditures, and complications of multiple chronic conditions in the elderly. Arch Intern Med. 2002 Nov 11;162(20):2269-76. doi: 10.1001/archinte.162.20.2269.
PubMed 12418941Forster AJ, Murff HJ, Peterson JF, Gandhi TK, Bates DW. The incidence and severity of adverse events affecting patients after discharge from the hospital. Ann Intern Med. 2003 Feb 4;138(3):161-7. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-138-3-200302040-00007.
PubMed 12558354Stewart S, Marley JE, Horowitz JD. Effects of a multidisciplinary, home-based intervention on unplanned readmissions and survival among patients with chronic congestive heart failure: a randomised controlled study. Lancet. 1999 Sep 25;354(9184):1077-83. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(99)03428-5.
PubMed 10509499Dudas V, Bookwalter T, Kerr KM, Pantilat SZ. The impact of follow-up telephone calls to patients after hospitalization. Am J Med. 2001 Dec 21;111(9B):26S-30S. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9343(01)00966-4.
PubMed 11790365Friedman RH, Kazis LE, Jette A, Smith MB, Stollerman J, Torgerson J, Carey K. A telecommunications system for monitoring and counseling patients with hypertension. Impact on medication adherence and blood pressure control. Am J Hypertens. 1996 Apr;9(4 Pt 1):285-92. doi: 10.1016/0895-7061(95)00353-3.
PubMed 8722429Friedman RH, Stollerman JE, Mahoney DM, Rozenblyum L. The virtual visit: using telecommunications technology to take care of patients. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 1997 Nov-Dec;4(6):413-25. doi: 10.1136/jamia.1997.0040413.
PubMed 9391929Friedman RH, Stollerman J, Rozenblyum L, Belfer D, Selim A, Mahoney D, Steinbach S. A telecommunications system to manage patients with chronic disease. Stud Health Technol Inform. 1998;52 Pt 2:1330-4.
PubMed 10384677Friedman RH. Automated telephone conversations to assess health behavior and deliver behavioral interventions. J Med Syst. 1998 Apr;22(2):95-102. doi: 10.1023/a:1022695119046.
PubMed 9571516
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 8 Apr 2013. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Randomized Trial of the PhoneCare System to Improve Ambulatory Care for Patients With Chronic Diseases
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01458184
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ComplexPt / H-27747
- Conditions
- Chronic Disease
- Keywords
- risk factors for complications, precarious medical situations
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 264 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Boston Medical CenterUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Sep 2008
- Primary completion
- Apr 2013 (actual)
- Study completion
- Apr 2013 (actual)
- First posted
- 24 Oct 2011 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of Telephone-Linked Care for Complex Patients (TLC-C) in the care of patients with complex health care needs. These are patients frequently transitioning from inpatient to ambulatory care with multiple chronic diseases that tend to lead to increased health-care utilization and other socio-economic vulnerabilities. The objective is to reduce preventable hospital utilization, improve quality of life, increase satisfaction with ambulatory care, improve disease-specific metrics, and reduce net payer costs.
Detailed description
TLC-C is a modification of an existing TLC-Multi-Disease system that targets patients with multiple chronic diseases combined with a post-hospital discharge intervention (TLC-RED-Lit). TLC-C uses conversational computer telephony to monitor patients' multiple diseases between their ambulatory care visits. The system works in both routine (patient stable) and exacerbation (patient unstable) modes. The system monitors patients through "virtual visits" and detects and notifies clinicians about important clinical problems to attend to. It also promotes patient self-care (e.g., medication adherence and appointment preparation). In emergent situations the system recommends going to the local Emergency Department (ED). In urgent situations, an alert is sent to the clinician or to his/her coverage provider. Exacerbation mode is used when the patient is discharged from a hospital inpatient service or ED or has worsening symptoms. It concentrates on the exacerbating disease and monitors patient status (improved, stable or deteriorating). Daily contact is maintained until the patient's status improves. Routine mode occurs with the patient at their baseline status and monitors the disease and the patients' self-care behaviors.
The investigators propose to perform a multi-method evaluation study of the patients, the providers, and the practice. This includes a 2-arm randomized clinical trial of TLC-C versus usual care for patients with two or more chronic diseases, at least one previous episode of acute hospital utilization over the last 12 months, and who had been recently discharged from an urban hospital. The randomized clinical trial (RCT) will evaluate the system in 440 patients followed for 6 months.
The primary outcome is acute hospital care utilization (unplanned hospitalizations and ED visits). Secondary outcomes include patient quality of life (EuroQol 5D [EQ-5D]), satisfaction (Clinician and Group Survey [G-CAHPS]), ambulatory appointment show rate and net payer costs. The investigators will explore disease specific metrics (e.g., hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c] or blood pressure). The investigators will perform formative and summative qualitative studies of the implementation of the system, its use and performance over time, and its impact on the patients, providers and the practice as a whole.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| PhoneCare system | Experimental | Behavioral: PhoneCare systemThis arm is evaluating whether utilizing the PhoneCare system aids participants with their complex health care needs. |
| Control Group: without PhoneCare System | No intervention | –Subjects in this arm will receive the usual care. Usual care is defined as receiving regular care from their physicians and no additional care or intervention from the study. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- age 18 years or more
- on one of Boston Medical Center (BMC)'s general medical services with an unscheduled hospitalization
- has a primary care provider in the BMC General Internal Medicine (GIM) practice or Family Medicine practice or is willing to be assigned a primary care physician (PCP) at BMC GIM or Family Medicine practice upon discharge
- once discharged, patient is planning to continue his/her primary care at BMC for the next 6 months
- communicates in English adequately to participate
Key exclusion criteria (8 listed)
- patients who are admitted from hospice, nursing home or another institutional setting
- patients who are in police custody or have a suicide sitter
- patients who cannot use a telephone unassisted or who do not have regular access to either a land line or cellular telephone for the next 6 months
- patients unwilling to accept calls to his/her phone for the next 6 months
- patients currently enrolled in this study or in the RED-Lit trial
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| PhoneCare systemAlso: TLC-CThe aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of Telephone-Linked Care for Complex Patients (TLC-C) in the care of patients with complex health care needs. TLC-C uses conversational computer telephony to monitor patients' multiple diseases between their ambulatory care visits. The system monitors patients through "virtual visits" and detects and notifies clinicians about important clinical problems to attend to. It also promotes patient self-care (e.g., medication adherence and appointment preparation). | Behavioural | PhoneCare system |
Primary outcome
Acute Hospital Care Utilization
Time frame: 3 months
Acute Hospital Care Utilization
Time frame: 6 months
5 secondary outcomes
Patient Quality of Life
Time frame: 3 months
Ambulatory Appointment Show Rate
Time frame: 3 months
Patient Quality of Life
Time frame: 6 months
Patient Satisfaction
Time frame: 6 months
Ambulatory Appointment Show Rate
Time frame: 6 months
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 8 Apr 2013.
- Background: PubMed 10403347Marcantonio ER, McKean S, Goldfinger M, Kleefield S, Yurkofsky M, Brennan TA. Factors associated with unplanned hospital readmission among patients 65 years of age and older in a Medicare managed care plan. Am J Med. 1999 Jul;107(1):13-7. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9343(99)00159-x.
- Background: PubMed 12418941Wolff JL, Starfield B, Anderson G. Prevalence, expenditures, and complications of multiple chronic conditions in the elderly. Arch Intern Med. 2002 Nov 11;162(20):2269-76. doi: 10.1001/archinte.162.20.2269.
- Background: PubMed 12558354Forster AJ, Murff HJ, Peterson JF, Gandhi TK, Bates DW. The incidence and severity of adverse events affecting patients after discharge from the hospital. Ann Intern Med. 2003 Feb 4;138(3):161-7. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-138-3-200302040-00007.
- Background: PubMed 10509499Stewart S, Marley JE, Horowitz JD. Effects of a multidisciplinary, home-based intervention on unplanned readmissions and survival among patients with chronic congestive heart failure: a randomised controlled study. Lancet. 1999 Sep 25;354(9184):1077-83. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(99)03428-5.
- Background: PubMed 11790365Dudas V, Bookwalter T, Kerr KM, Pantilat SZ. The impact of follow-up telephone calls to patients after hospitalization. Am J Med. 2001 Dec 21;111(9B):26S-30S. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9343(01)00966-4.
- Background: PubMed 8722429Friedman RH, Kazis LE, Jette A, Smith MB, Stollerman J, Torgerson J, Carey K. A telecommunications system for monitoring and counseling patients with hypertension. Impact on medication adherence and blood pressure control. Am J Hypertens. 1996 Apr;9(4 Pt 1):285-92. doi: 10.1016/0895-7061(95)00353-3.
- Background: PubMed 9391929Friedman RH, Stollerman JE, Mahoney DM, Rozenblyum L. The virtual visit: using telecommunications technology to take care of patients. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 1997 Nov-Dec;4(6):413-25. doi: 10.1136/jamia.1997.0040413.
- Background: PubMed 10384677Friedman RH, Stollerman J, Rozenblyum L, Belfer D, Selim A, Mahoney D, Steinbach S. A telecommunications system to manage patients with chronic disease. Stud Health Technol Inform. 1998;52 Pt 2:1330-4.
- Background: PubMed 9571516Friedman RH. Automated telephone conversations to assess health behavior and deliver behavioral interventions. J Med Syst. 1998 Apr;22(2):95-102. doi: 10.1023/a:1022695119046.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Brian Jack, MD principal investigator
Boston Medical Center
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing PhoneCare system in people with Chronic Disease, run by Boston Medical Center at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 Apr 2013. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Acute Hospital Care Utilization (time frame: 3 months). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01458184, which also lists 9 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 8 Apr 2013; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 8 Nov 2026.