Care.Coach Avatars for Improvement of Outcomes in Hospitalized Elders, Including Mitigation of Falls and Delirium: a Multi-Site Clinical Study

For each patient without prevalent delirium (each patient who screens negative per the Confusion Assessment Method [CAM] upon study enrollment, which is assumed to be within 24 hours of admission to the hospital unit), Incident Delirium is indicated by any positive CAM screen during the patient's study enrollment period, with CAM screens being performed at least daily (the final CAM screen is assumed to be within 24 hours of discharge from the hospital unit). Incident Delirium is thus a binary variable (true/false) for each patient, and the rate of Incident Delirium will be compared across study groups, with a lower rate being desirable.

For each patient with prevalent delirium (each patient who screens positive per the Confusion Assessment Method [CAM] upon study enrollment, which is assumed to be within 24 hours of admission to the hospital unit), delirium will be considered resolved if the patient's final CAM screen (which is assumed to be within 24 hours prior to discharge from the hospital unit) indicates no delirium. Delirium Resolution is thus a binary variable (true/false) for each patient, and the rate of successful Delirium Resolution will be compared across study groups, with a higher rate being desirable.

For each patient, the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ) is administered to measure cognitive function (0-10 errors, more errors indicating greater cognitive impairment) upon enrollment and upon dis-enrollment from the study. Change in Cognitive Function is the difference from the enrollment SPMSQ score to the dis-enrollment SPMSQ score. Change in Cognitive Function will be compared across study groups, with a larger numerical reduction being desirable.

For each patient screened delirium positive on the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM), the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS) is administered to measure delirium severity upon enrollment and upon dis-enrollment from the study. Change in Delirium Severity is the difference from the enrollment MDAS score to the dis-enrollment MDAS score. Change in Delirium Severity will be compared across study groups, with a larger numerical reduction being desirable.