Perfil dos pacientes em cuidados paliativos na atenção domiciliar em um serviço do Sul do Brasil / Profile of patients under palliative care in home care in a service in Southern Brazil / Perfil de pacientes en cuidados paliativos en atención domiciliaria en un servicio del Sur de Brasil

Introdução: A Medicina de Família e Comunidade, como forma de cuidado mais próxima ao paciente, pode ofertar cuidados paliativos (CP) de modo integral e individualizado. Assim, torna-se relevante caracterizar a população atendida de modo a favorecer o desenvolvimento e implementação de estratégias para a ampliação da assistência de CP na Rede de Atenção à Saúde. Objetivo: Apresentar um panorama do perfil epidemiológico dos pacientes em CP domiciliares, no período de janeiro de 2018 a outubro de 2021, assistidos pelo Serviço de Atenção Domiciliar (SAD), vinculado ao Hospital Municipal de São José (HMSJ), na cidade de Joinville (SC). Métodos: Série de casos retrospectiva, incluindo os participantes do SAD que evoluíram a óbito no período da pesquisa. Os critérios de exclusão foram os participantes vivos no período da pesquisa; aqueles registrados, mas não atendidos pela equipe médica; os que receberam alta do programa; pacientes com prontuário incompleto; prontuários duplicados e menores de 18 anos. Os dados coletados incluíram número identificador do prontuário, idade, sexo, estado civil, diagnóstico, data de entrada no SAD, data de óbito, tempo de permanência no SAD, desfecho de óbito e via pela qual foi atestado o óbito, se recebeu analgesia com opioides e se fez uso de mais de um opioide, e se recebeu analgesia em bomba de infusão contínua (BIC) e/ou sedação paliativa. Os dados foram coletados pelos pesquisadores de prontuários médicos, codificados e conferidos duplamente. Foram realizadas então média e mediana das variáveis, bem como correlação dos dados e análise dos resultados. Resultados: Duzentos e oito pacientes foram incluídos; a média de idade foi 66,8 anos; as doenças neoplásicas foram as mais prevalentes (94,2%), destacando-se as neoplasias de trato gastrointestinal (21,1%), pulmonares (12,5%) e de mama (9,5%). A maior parte dos pacientes (37,9%) permaneceu sob os cuidados do SAD por mais de 30 dias e 75,9% da população analisada veio a óbito em ambiente domiciliar, e 45,67% desses indivíduos foram atestados via Serviço de Verificação de Óbitos e 30,2% via SAD. Quanto ao manejo da dor, 87,1% fizeram uso de opioides, mais frequentemente a morfina. Quanto à sedação paliativa, esta esteve presente em apenas 25,48%, prevalecendo o uso de midazolam. Conclusões: Neste estudo, encontrou-se maior prevalência de pacientes acometidos por doenças neoplásicas em fase final de vida, com necessidade de controle de dor adequado ­ contexto no qual o SAD possibilita o atendimento especializado ao paciente e seus familiares em um ambiente de maior conforto.

Introduction: Family Practice, being closer to the patient, can offer comprehensive and individualized Palliative Care (PC). Therefore, characterizing the population served becomes essential to support the development and implementation of strategies to expand PC services in the Health Care Network. Objective: Present an overview of the epidemiological profile of patients receiving home-based palliative care from January 2018 to October 2021, supported by Home Care Services (HCS) affiliated with Hospital Municipal São José (HMSJ) in the city of Joinville (SC). Methods: Retrospective case series with Participants in HCS who passed away during the study period were included. Exclusion criteria comprised living participants, those registered but not attended by the medical team, program discharges, incomplete medical records, duplicates, and individuals under 18 years of age. Collected data included record identifier, age, gender, marital status, diagnosis, entry and death dates, duration of HCS stay, death outcome and certification method, opioid analgesia use, use of multiple opioids, and use of continuous infusion pump (CIP) analgesia and/or palliative sedation. Researchers collected and double-checked the coded data, performed average and median calculations, correlated data, and analyzed results. Results: Two hundred and eight patients were included; average age was 66.8 years; neoplastic diseases were most prevalent (94.2%), particularly gastrointestinal (21.1%), pulmonary (12.5%), and breast cancers (9.5%). The majority of patients (37.9%) remained under HCS care for over 30 days, and 75.9% of the analyzed population passed away at home, with 45.67% certified by the Death Verification Service and 30.2% by HCS. Regarding pain management, 87.1% used opioids, most commonly morphine. Palliative sedation was present in only 25.48%, predominantly using midazolam. Conclusions: This study found a higher prevalence of patients with end-stage neoplastic diseases requiring adequate pain control, an area where HCS provides specialized care in a more comfortable environment.

Introducción: La Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria, como forma de atención más cercana al paciente, puede ofrecer Cuidados Paliativos (CP) de forma integral e individualizada. Por lo tanto, resulta relevante caracterizar la población atendida con el fin de favorecer el desarrollo e implementación de estrategias para ampliar la asistencia en CP en la red de Atención a la Salud. Objetivo: Presentar una visión general del perfil epidemiológico de los pacientes que recibieron cuidados paliativos domiciliarios, de enero de 2018 a octubre de 2021, atendidos por el Servicio de Atención de Salud a Domicilio (SAD), vinculado al Hospital Municipal São José (HMSJ), de la ciudad de Joinville (SC). Método: Serie de casos retrospectiva, incluyendo participantes del SAD que fallecieron durante el período de investigación. Los criterios de exclusión fueron participantes vivos durante el período de investigación; pacientes registrados pero no atendidos por el equipo médico; los que tuvieron alta del programa; con historial médico incompleto, historial médico duplicado y menores de 18 años. Los datos recogidos incluyeron número de identificación del historial médico, edad, sexo, estado civil, diagnóstico, fecha de ingreso al SAD, fecha de fallecimiento, tiempo de estancia en el SAD, desenlace de la muerte y vía por la que se certificó la muerte; si recibió analgesia con opioides y si usaron más de un opioide, y si recibieron analgesia con bomba de infusión continua (BIC) y/o sedación paliativa. Los datos fueron recopilados por investigadores de registros médicos, codificados y verificados dos veces. Luego se realizó la media y mediana de las variables, así como la correlación de datos y el análisis de los resultados. Resultados: Se incluyeron doscientos ocho pacientes; la edad promedio fue de 66,8 años; las enfermedades neoplásicas fueron las más prevalentes (94,2%), destacándose las neoplasias del tracto gastrointestinal (21,1%), pulmón (12,5%) y mama (9,5%). La mayoría de los pacientes (37,9%) permanecieron bajo atención del SAD más de 30 días y el 75,9% de la población analizada falleció en su domicilio, de los cuales el 45,67% fue certificado a través del Servicio de Urgencias de Verificación de Defunciones y el 30,2% a través del SAD. En cuanto al manejo del dolor, el 87,1% utilizaba opioides, con mayor frecuencia morfina. En cuanto a la sedación paliativa, estuvo presente solo en el 25,48%, prevaleciendo el uso de midazolam. Conclusiones: En este estudio se encontró una mayor prevalencia de pacientes afectados por enfermedades neoplásicas en la etapa final de la vida, que necesitan un control adecuado del dolor, un contexto en el que el SAD permite una atención especializada a los pacientes y sus familias en un ambiente más confortable.

A WeChat platform program (WCPP) for full-process management of patients with cardiac valve interventional surgery based on psycho-cardiology: protocol of a mixed-method study.

BACKGROUND: Valvular heart disease is the third most common cardiovascular disease; it significantly diminishes patients' quality of life and imposes burdens on individuals, families, and healthcare systems. In recent years, psycho-cardiology has emerged as a prominent field in which to explore the link between mental illness and heart disease. This mixed-method study aims to assess the effectiveness of the WCPP, which includes hospital-to-home transitional care, remote intelligent monitoring, and decision aids, in improving the physical and mental health of patients. METHODS: A mixed-method study was conducted at a cardiac valve interventional surgery (CVIS) center in Southwest China. A total of 154 CVIS patients participated, with the intervention group receiving the WCPP and the control group following the traditional CVIS management program. Both groups were followed up at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. The primary outcome is measured via the Chinese version of the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). The Secondary outcomes included the 6-min walk test (6MWT), modified Barthel index (MBI), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), patient satisfaction, and length of hospital stay (LOS). Additionally, qualitative research will assess the psychological state and experiences of the patients. DISCUSSION: Our study is one of the few involving patients with CVIS and the first to apply psycho-cardiology through a full-process management platform. The study population is predominantly from Southwest China and includes a diverse range of demographic and socioeconomic backgrounds. Upon completion, this study will provide valuable insights into the use of a remote, full-process management platform for CVIS patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2400081052. Registered on 21 February 2024. The trial complies with the SPIRIT and CONSORT guidelines.

From challenges to opportunities: Digital transformation in hospital-at-home care.

BACKGROUND: Digital transformation is an ongoing sosio-technological process that can create opportunities in the health sector. However, the current landscape of digital transformation in hospital-at-home care is unknown. AIM: To describe healthcare providers' perspectives of digital transformation in hospital-at-home care. METHODS: A total of 25 semi-structured interviews were conducted in September-October 2023 in all Finnish wellbeing services counties (n = 21), the city of Helsinki (n = 1), and private health care providers (n = 3). Snowball sampling was used (N = 46). The data underwent an inductive content analysis. RESULT: The analysis revealed four main and 17 generic categories of challenges and opportunities of digital transformation in hospital-at-home care. These challenges and opportunities were related to 1) Health information exchange in and across hospital-at-home care; 2) Management of hospital-at-home care; 3) Logistics in hospital-at-home care planning and delivery; and 4) Digital health interventions in hospital-at-home care delivery. CONCLUSIONS: The challenges and opportunities of digital transformation in the hospital-at-home care is intricately linked to the efficiency of health information exchange, management, logistics, and digital health interventions. Addressing the key areas of improvement in health information exchange can lead to more streamlined patient care processes and improved communication between healthcare professionals and patients. Digital transformation in management and logistics can improve overall efficiency within healthcare systems. Digital health interventions may promote equitable and universal access to high-quality healthcare. Continued focus on health care information infrastructure, in particular interoperability of electronic health records and optimization of information flow, will be essential to realize the full potential of digitalization.

Homecare, home monitoring, and hospital-at-home.

The Danish healthcare system is currently undergoing a transformation towards increased use of virtual healthcare services. In this review, we propose a structured risk-stratified model to delineate the differences between homecare, homemonitoring, and hospital-at-home, while discussing their current status and addressing barriers hindering the widespread adoption and scaling of home-based care incl. technological limitations, regulatory complexities, and cultural considerations. We advocate for establishing a national central support function to expedite the shift towards home-based care.

The experiences of hospital staff with decision-making concerning patient enrolment in hospital at home services: A complex and dynamic process.

BACKGROUND: Hospital at home care services offer a potential solution to the problem of strain on hospital beds while simultaneously enhancing patient outcomes. Nevertheless, implementation of the hospital at home care model is associated with several challenges. One such barrier involves patient enrolment, particularly during the initial stage of service operation. Due to their frontline experience, healthcare professionals possess valuable insights that can help us understand and address this challenge. This study aimed to explore the experiences of hospital staff in the decision-making process concerning patient enrolment in hospital at home. METHODS: In total, 22 semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with hospital staff members between January and May 2022 at the participants' workplace or in a public office depending on their preferences. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS: We identified four themes pertaining to the experiences of hospital staff with the decision-making process concerning patient enrolment in hospital at home: "beneficial for the patients; an important motivating factor", "patient eligibility; prioritizing safety", "contextual factors within hospital ward units; opportunities and limitations", and "collaboration with municipalities; crucial but challenging". CONCLUSIONS: Hospital staff described a complex and dynamic decision-making process when considering patient eligibility for enrolment to hospital at home services. The findings highlight both barriers and enablers pertaining to this process and emphasize the need to provide support to hospital staff as they navigate this complex situation. A key finding pertains to the critical importance of high-quality decision-making in ensuring positive outcomes and the overall effectiveness of hospital at home care services. Additionally, this study proposes a deeper exploration of the ethical considerations associated with balancing the goal of patient safety with that of equitable access to high-quality, person-centred care within the context of hospital at home.

The experience of children and family in pediatric home hospitalization: A systematic review of qualitative evidence.

OBJECTIVE: To synthesize the experiences of children and parents/caregivers in the process of pediatric home hospitalization (PHH). INTRODUCTION: The practice of home hospitalization (HH), while not a new concept has expanded in recent years. This model of care consists of continuous care at home for children with acute illness or acute chronic disease and presents itself as an alternative to conventional hospitalization (Middel, 2007; Parab et al., 2013). Excellence in pediatric healthcare is fundamental and this review provides a necessary understanding towards the experiences of children and their families in HH. METHODS: Research was carried out in three phases and included both published and grey literature in the CINAHL, MEDLINE, MedicLatina, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, and OpenAIRE databases to find relevant articles. Studies published in Portuguese, English, Spanish, and French with no time limit were considered. RESULTS: Findings were aggregated into five categories: communication and care experiences, parental dynamics and role carers, benefits and challenges for parents and children, relationship between parents, children's, and healthcare professionals and enhancing continuity of care and family support. According to ConQual the confidence level of the results was moderate in all articles. CONCLUSIONS: Through PHH, it is possible to avoid the impact of a conventional hospitalization since it promotes family union, increases the affective bond, the feeling of security, comfort, tranquillity, relief, confidence, and autonomy, reducing stressors such as anxiety, fear, nervousness, uncertainty, and fear.

Effectiveness of a Multifaceted Implementation Strategy to Increase Equitable Hospital at Home Utilization: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The number of Hospital-at-Home (HaH) programs rapidly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and after issuance of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) Acute Hospital Care at Home (AHCaH) waiver. However, there remains little evidence on effective strategies to equitably expand HaH utilization. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the effects of a multifaceted implementation strategy on HaH utilization over time. DESIGN: Before and after implementation evaluation using electronic health record (EHR) data and interrupted time series analysis, complemented by qualitative interviews with key stakeholders. PARTICIPANTS: Between December 2021 and December 2022, we identified adults hospitalized at six hospitals in North Carolina approved by CMS to participate in the AHCaH waiver program. Eligible adults met criteria for HaH transfer (HaH-eligible clinical condition, qualifying home environment). We conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 HaH patients and 10 referring clinicians. INTERVENTIONS: Two strategies were studied. The discrete implementation strategy (weeks 1-12) included clinician-directed educational outreach. The multifaceted implementation strategy (weeks 13-54) included ongoing clinician-directed educational outreach, local HaH assistance via nurse navigators, involvement of clinical service line executives, and individualized audit and feedback. MEASURES: We assessed weekly averaged HaH capacity utilization, weekly counts of unique referring providers, and patient characteristics. We analyzed themes from qualitative data to determine barriers and facilitators to HaH use. RESULTS: Our evaluation showed week-to-week increases in HaH capacity utilization during the multifaceted implementation strategy period, compared to discrete-period trends (slope-change odds ratio-1.02, 1.01-1.04). Counts of referring providers also increased week to week, compared to discrete-period trends (slope-change means ratio-1.05, 1.03-1.07). The increase in HaH utilization was largest among rural residents (11 to 34%). Barriers included HaH-related information gaps and referral challenges; facilitators included patient-centeredness of HaH care. CONCLUSIONS: A multifaceted implementation strategy was associated with increased HaH capacity utilization, provider adoption, and patient diversity. Health systems may consider similar, contextually relevant multicomponent approaches to equitably expand HaH.

Hospital in the Home: Nurse-Led Models of Care and Pathways.

Hospital in the Home (HITH) model of care was developed to support the COVID-19 response and the need to deliver care in new ways to ensure secondary care services were free to deliver care to the sickest patients and not be overwhelmed by the COVID-19 patients needing hospital-level care. Intermediate Care Services, led by nursing and allied health stepped up to the challenge and collaborated on the development of the HITH model of care with defined pathways. This provided hospital-level acute health services in the home that was a clinically safe alternative option to inpatient care. The establishment of HITH released bed capacity and resources and therefore prevented the need for expanding hospital inpatient capacity at a time where resources and staff were constrained. Care delivery was achieved by utilising both in-person visits and telehealth. Technology supported the care delivery which allowed patients, whanau (family) and clinicians to be connected.

Home-First or Hospital-First? A Propensity Score-Weighted Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare clinical and utilization outcomes between home-first and hospital-first models of care in the operation of a hospital-at-home (HaH) program. DESIGN: This is a retrospective cohort study in which the primary outcome was a composite of oxygenation, intensive care unit admission, and all-cause mortality and the primary utilization outcome was length of stay (hospital and home bed days). SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: The study sample included 1025 patients with COVID-19 admitted to an HaH program in Singapore from September 23, 2021, to February 29, 2022. METHODS: Propensity score weighting and regression analysis were used to adjust for confounding between both groups. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the odds of occurrence of the primary outcome between the home-first and hospital-first groups (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.44-3.10). Home-first patients had a shorter length of stay by an average of 2.02 (95% CI, 1.10-2.93) days with no statistically significant difference in clinical outcomes compared with hospital-first patients. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Patients with COVID-19 suitable for HaH should be considered for direct admission to HaH without need for an initial hospital stay.

Acceptability of Hospital-at-Home Care and Capacity for Caregiver Burden.

This study surveys a representative US population about aspects of hospital-at-home care, including acceptability and willingness to perform caregiving tasks.

Hospital at Home programs: Decentralized inpatient care but centralized laboratory testing?

The Hospital at Home (HaH) program has experienced accelerated growth in major Canadian provinces, driven in part by technological advancements and evolving patient needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. As an increasing number of hospitals pilot or implement these innovative programs, substantial resources have been allocated to support clinical teams. However, it is crucial to note that the vital roles played by clinical laboratories remain insufficiently acknowledged. This mini review aims to shed light on the diverse functions of clinical laboratories, spanning the preanalytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases within the HaH program context. Additionally, the review will explore recent advancements in clinical testing and the potential benefits of integrating new technologies into the HaH framework. Emphasizing the integral role of clinical laboratories, the discussion will address the current barriers hindering their active involvement, accompanied by proposed solutions. The capacity and efficiency of the HaH program hinge on sustained collaborative efforts from various teams, with clinical laboratories as crucial team players. Recognizing and addressing the specific challenges faced by clinical laboratories is essential for optimizing the overall performance and impact of the HaH initiative.

Home Heart Hospital Associated With Reduced Hospitalizations and Costs Among High-Cost Patients With Cardiovascular Disease.

BACKGROUND: There is no widely accepted care model for managing high-need, high-cost (HNHC) patients. We hypothesized that a Home Heart Hospital (H3), which provides longitudinal, hospital-level at-home care, would improve care quality and reduce costs for HNHC patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate associations between enrollment in H3, which provides longitudinal, hospital-level at-home care, care quality, and costs for HNHC patients with CVD. METHODS: This retrospective within-subject cohort study used insurance claims and electronic health records data to evaluate unadjusted and adjusted annualized hospitalization rates, total costs of care, part A costs, and mortality rates before, during, and following H3. RESULTS: Ninety-four patients were enrolled in H3 between February 2019 and October 2021. Patients' mean age was 75 years and 50% were female. Common comorbidities included congestive heart failure (50%), atrial fibrillation (37%), coronary artery disease (44%). Relative to pre-enrollment, enrollment in H3 was associated with significant reductions in annualized hospitalization rates (absolute reduction (AR): 2.4 hospitalizations/year, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: -0.8, -4.0; p < 0.001; total costs of care (AR: -$56 990, 95% CI: -$105 170, -$8810; p < 0.05; and part A costs (AR: -$78 210, 95% CI: -$114 770, -$41 640; p < 0.001). Annualized post-H3 total costs and part A costs were significantly lower than pre-enrollment costs (total costs of care: -$113 510, 95% CI: -$151 340, -$65 320; p < 0.001; part A costs: -$84 480, 95% CI: -$121 040, -$47 920; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Longitudinal home-based care models hold promise for improving quality and reducing healthcare spending for HNHC patients with CVD.

Early discharge hospital at home as alternative to routine hospital care for older people: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The global population of adults aged 60 and above surpassed 1 billion in 2020, constituting 13.5% of the global populace. Projections indicate a rise to 2.1 billion by 2050. While Hospital-at-Home (HaH) programs have emerged as a promising alternative to traditional routine hospital care, showing initial benefits in metrics such as lower mortality rates, reduced readmission rates, shorter treatment durations, and improved mental and functional status among older individuals, the robustness and magnitude of these effects relative to conventional hospital settings call for further validation through a comprehensive meta-analysis. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was executed during April-June 2023, across PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) to include both RCT and non-RCT HaH studies. Statistical analyses were conducted using Review Manager (version 5.4), with Forest plots and I2 statistics employed to detect inter-study heterogeneity. For I2 > 50%, indicative of substantial heterogeneity among the included studies, we employed the random-effects model to account for the variability. For I2 ≤ 50%, we used the fixed effects model. Subgroup analyses were conducted in patients with different health conditions, including cancer, acute medical conditions, chronic medical conditions, orthopedic issues, and medically complex conditions. RESULTS: Fifteen trials were included in this systematic review, including 7 RCTs and 8 non-RCTs. Outcome measures include mortality, readmission rates, treatment duration, functional status (measured by the Barthel index), and mental status (measured by MMSE). Results suggest that early discharge HaH is linked to decreased mortality, albeit supported by low-certainty evidence across 13 studies. It also shortens the length of treatment, corroborated by seven trials. However, its impact on readmission rates and mental status remains inconclusive, supported by nine and two trials respectively. Functional status, gauged by the Barthel index, indicated potential decline with early discharge HaH, according to four trials. Subgroup analyses reveal similar trends. CONCLUSIONS: While early discharge HaH shows promise in specific metrics like mortality and treatment duration, its utility is ambiguous in the contexts of readmission, mental status, and functional status, necessitating cautious interpretation of findings.

Outcomes from an Early Adopters Home Hospital Accelerator for Acute Care at Home.

BACKGROUND: Following the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' approval of the Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver, an increasing number of health care organizations launched Home Hospital (HH) programs in the USA. Ongoing barriers include access to HH expertise and a standard, comprehensive set of implementation tools. We created the HH Early Adopters Accelerator to bring together a network of health care organizations to develop tools ("knowledge products") necessary for HH implementation. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the feasibility of the Accelerator approach for generating and implementing relevant, high-quality knowledge products. DESIGN: Mixed methods evaluation of the Accelerator. Surveys and qualitative interviews of Accelerator participants were conducted. Surveys elicited feedback on the knowledge products, including time spent on development, perceived utility and quality, and implementation success. The qualitative interviews gathered more in-depth information on topics covered in the surveys. PARTICIPANTS: Eighteen healthcare organizations and 105 individuals participated in the Accelerator. KEY RESULTS: The Accelerator reached its goal and developed 20 knowledge products in 32 working weeks (more efficient than expected). Participants agreed that the knowledge products were useful (developers: 98.1%; stakeholders: 93.8%), of high quality (developers: 96.8%), and would improve patient care if implemented in their HH program (developers: 91.7%; stakeholders: 91.2%). Two thirds (66.7%) of the participating organizations who had implemented knowledge products at 3 months continued utilizing knowledge products in their HH program at 1 year. Agreement that knowledge products improve patient care persisted (92% strongly agreed or agreed) at 1 year. Several programs created new tools, policies, and workflows as a result of implementing the knowledge products. CONCLUSIONS: The Accelerator created high-quality, comprehensive knowledge products that healthcare organizations found useful for safe HH implementation 1 year later. The Accelerator approach can feasibly help healthcare organizations safely bridge the gap between innovation and standard practice.

The effects of a hospital-to-home care transition program on perceived stress and readiness for hospital discharge in mothers of children with congenital heart disease undergoing corrective surgery.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a hospital-to-home care transition (H2H-CT) program on perceived stress and readiness for hospital discharge (RHD) in mothers of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) undergoing corrective surgery. METHODS: This study used a quasi-experimental design and involved 78 mother-child dyads, 40 dyads in the intervention group and 38 dyads in the control group, who were affected by CHD undergoing corrective surgery. The participants received the H2H-CT program, which consisted of six face-to-face training sessions during hospitalization and six telephone counselling sessions. For perceived stress, data were collected at four intervals, including baseline, immediately, one month and three months after completion of the intervention. For RHD, data were collected at two times: baseline and immediately after the intervention. RESULTS: The results demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in the mean perceived stress score in mothers of children with CHD in intervention group before, immediately, four weeks and eight weeks after H2H-CT (P < 0.001). The results also indicated a significant increase in the mean RHD score in the intervention group following H2H-CT (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The H2H-CT program was found to be an effective intervention in reducing perceived stress and increasing RHD in mothers of children with CHD who undergoing corrective surgery. IMPLICATIONS TO PRACTICE: The results can be used by the nursing planners, nursing instructors, and pediatric nurses to use the results to enhance the mental health of mothers and enable them to provide quality care at home.

Remote Vital Sign Monitoring in Admission Avoidance Hospital at Home: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVES: To examine randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of "hospital at home" (HAH) for admission avoidance in adults presenting with acute physical illness to identify the use of vital sign monitoring approaches and evidence for their effectiveness. DESIGN: Systematic review. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: This review compared strategies for vital sign monitoring in admission avoidance HAH for adults presenting with acute physical illness. Vital sign monitoring can support HAH acute multidisciplinary care by contributing to safety, determining requirement of further assessment, and guiding clinical decisions. There are a wide range of systems currently available, including reliable and automated continuous remote monitoring using wearable devices. METHODS: Eligible studies were identified through updated database and trial registries searches (March 2, 2016, to February 15, 2023), and existing systematic reviews. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias 2 tool. Random effects meta-analyses were performed, and narrative summaries provided stratified by vital sign monitoring approach. RESULTS: Twenty-one eligible RCTs (3459 participants) were identified. Two approaches to vital sign monitoring were characterized: manual and automated. Reporting was insufficient in the majority of studies for classification. For HAH compared to hospital care, 6-monthly mortality risk ratio (RR) was 0.94 (95% CI 0.78-1.12), 3-monthly readmission to hospital RR 1.02 (0.77-1.35), and length of stay mean difference 1.91 days (0.71-3.12). Readmission to hospital was reduced in the automated monitoring subgroup (RR 0.30 95% CI 0.11-0.86). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: This review highlights gaps in the reporting and evidence base informing remote vital sign monitoring in alternatives to admission for acute illness, despite expanding implementation in clinical practice. Although continuous vital sign monitoring using wearable devices may offer added benefit, its use in existing RCTs is limited. Recommendations for the implementation and evaluation of remote monitoring in future clinical trials are proposed.

Risk factors associated with escalation of care in a quaternary academic hospital at home program.

BACKGROUND: Hospital-at-home has become a more recognized way to care for patients requiring inpatient hospitalization. At times, these patients may require escalation of care (transfer from home back to the brick-and-mortar (BAM) hospital for ongoing hospitalization care needs), a process that has not been extensively studied. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate what patient factors contribute to escalations of care in the hospital-at-home delivery model. DESIGNS, SETTINGS, AND PARTICIPANTS: We conducted a retrospective review of all patients admitted to Mayo Clinic's Advanced Care at Home (ACH) program from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022. INTERVENTION: None. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Patient information was collected via electronic health record including demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical status. The primary outcome was the of occurrence of an escalation. RESULTS: A total of 904 patients were included, of whom 80 (8.8%) required an escalation of care. In multivariable analysis, risk of an escalation was significantly higher for patients who were married or had a life partner (HR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.05-3.23, p = .033) for patients admitted with procedure-related disorders (HR: 2.61, 95% CI: 1.35-5.05, p = .005) and patients with an increased mortality risk score (HR [per each 1-category increase] = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.39-2.50, p < .001).

The future of hospital at home: a qualitative interview study of healthcare staff.

PURPOSE: Hospital at Home (HaH) services are expanding to provide acute multidisciplinary care in an individual's home. In this pilot study, we interviewed HaH staff to understand challenges and opportunities for service development. METHODS: We conducted 23 semi-structured interviews with multidisciplinary staff working across three HaH services in Scotland. The questions focussed on service strengths and challenges. RESULTS: Four themes emerged: raising referral awareness, service design and efficiency, staff security on home visits, and sustainability. HaH staff described Emergency Department posters, experience days for non-HaH staff, and daily communication of virtual bed capacity to raise awareness for referrals. Ideas for maximising clinician time were prioritised to improve service efficiency and investment in electric vehicles was strongly supported to mitigate climate impact. CONCLUSION: We found high job satisfaction and engagement amongst HaH staff. Our interviews suggest enthusiasm for further development of HaH while raising important challenges to address during service expansion.

A Comprehensive Framework for Hospital@Home Care Models.

Hospital@home is a healthcare approach, where patients receive active treatment from health professionals in their own home for conditions that would normally necessitate a hospital stay. OBJECTIVE: To develop a framework of relevant features for describing hospital@home care models. METHODS: The framework was developed based on a literature review and thematic analysis. We considered 42 papers describing hospital@home care approaches. Extracted features were grouped and aggregated in a framework. RESULTS: The framework consists of nine dimensions: Persons involved, target patient population, service delivery, intended outcome, first point of contact, technology involved, quality, and data collection. The framework provides a comprehensive list of required roles, technologies and service types. CONCLUSION: The framework can act as a guide for researchers to develop new technologies or interventions to improve hospital@home, particularly in areas such as tele-health, wearable technology, and patient self-management tools. Healthcare providers can use the framework as a guide or blueprint for building or expanding upon their hospital@home services.