Improving care for residents in long term care facilities experiencing an acute change in health status.
BMC Health Serv Res
; 20(1): 1075, 2020 Nov 25.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33234155
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Long term care (LTC) facilities provide health services and assist residents with daily care. At times residents may require transfer to emergency departments (ED), depending on the severity of their change in health status, their goals of care, and the ability of the facility to care for medically unstable residents. However, many transfers from LTC to ED are unnecessary, and expose residents to discontinuity in care and iatrogenic harms. This knowledge translation project aims to implement a standardized LTC-ED care and referral pathway for LTC facilities seeking transfer to ED, which optimizes the use of resources both within the LTC facility and surrounding community. METHODS/DESIGN:
We will use a quasi-experimental randomized stepped-wedge design in the implementation and evaluation of the pathway within the Calgary zone of Alberta Health Services (AHS), Canada. Specifically, the intervention will be implemented in 38 LTC facilities. The intervention will involve a standardized LTC-ED care and referral pathway, along with targeted INTERACT® tools. The implementation strategies will be adapted to the local context of each facility and to address potential implementation barriers identified through a staff completed barriers assessment tool. The evaluation will use a mixed-methods approach. The primary outcome will be any change in the rate of transfers to ED from LTC facilities adjusted by resident-days. Secondary outcomes will include a post-implementation qualitative assessment of the pathway. Comparative cost-analysis will be undertaken from the perspective of publicly funded health care.DISCUSSION:
This study will integrate current resources in the LTC-ED pathway in a manner that will better coordinate and optimize the care for LTC residents experiencing an acute change in health status.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Contexto em Saúde:
1_ASSA2030
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Qualidade da Assistência à Saúde
/
Assistência de Longa Duração
/
Serviço Hospitalar de Emergência
/
Melhoria de Qualidade
/
Casas de Saúde
Tipo de estudo:
Clinical_trials
/
Qualitative_research
Aspecto:
Patient_preference
Limite:
Aged
/
Aged80
/
Humans
País/Região como assunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
BMC Health Serv Res
Ano de publicação:
2020
Tipo de documento:
Article