Health care for older Americans with multiple chronic conditions: a research agenda.

In response to the substantial and increasing healthcare requirements of older adults with multiple chronic conditions and acknowledgment of major gaps in knowledge and funding, two expert meetings were convened to identify a research agenda addressing the needs of this population. Research priorities are to develop and evaluate more-effective models of health care, develop and evaluate management practices and organizational structures that lead to improved long-term care, develop and implement relevant and effective preventive health strategies, determine the most effective interventions in patients who have concurrent cognitive or emotional impairments, and determine how interventions during and after hospitalization affect the outcomes of hospitalized patients.