Patients with COVID-19 share their experiences of recovering at home following hospital care transitions and discharge preparation.

INTRODUCTION: Patients discharged following hospitalization for COVID-19 require clear discharge protocols, information resources and communications to adequately prepare them to safely and successfully transition from hospital to home. Our study focuses on the patients' transition to recovering at home including their hospital discharge preparation and hospital experiences. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive study design involved interviewing patients who had been hospitalized for COVID-19 in one urban Alberta, Canada centre. Purposive sampling was used to select patients from a centralized COVID-19 hospital patient database stratified by month between March 2020 and February 2021. Other inclusion criteria (e.g., sex and age) were also considered. Semi-structured interviews with patients were recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Data sufficiency and saturation were determined. RESULTS: Twelve patients shared their lived experiences and recovery journey from COVID-19. Themes were reported under three main areas as framed by the study aim-the current status of patients recovering at home, including the supports they used to manage; their discharge process and preparation to go home; and their various hospital-related experiences. Suggestions for improving aspects of the patient journey were also captured. CONCLUSION: Findings provided details of the needs, information gaps and what matters most to patients when they are recovering from COVID-19 at home, including their preparation to safely and successfully transition from hospital to home (i.e., feeling well prepared to go home, including being adequately assessed and having clear discharge protocols and communication). Key learnings were applied to improve or develop patient discharge and transition resources. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: A patient/family advisor and patient experience partners were involved throughout the study, codeveloping all aspects, from the study design to the reporting and application of the findings. Leading into the study, patient experiences and feedback regarding the home from hospital recovery journey informed multiple aspects, including the codevelopment of the interview guide.

Patient and Citizen Innovation Council in family practice.

PROBLEM ADDRESSED: Patient engagement is integral to the Patient's Medical Home model. Patient-centred care is more than what happens in the examination room. Decisions around clinic processes, work flow, and initiative prioritization also warrant a patient perspective. OBJECTIVE OF PROGRAM: The Academic Family Medicine Clinic at the South Health Campus in Calgary, Alta, identified a need for patient and community advisory expertise regarding clinic initiatives and quality improvement. A council was proposed to engage patients and citizens in exploring meaningful ways to drive innovation and improve the care experience. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: The Academic Family Medicine Clinic partnered with the South Health Campus Patient and Family Centred Care staff in developing a dedicated family medicine patient and community council. The resulting committee of 6 volunteers and 3 staff members has delivered presentations to incoming family medicine residents and staff on the role of a patient advisory council; advised on methodology to collect and represent broad patient perspectives; provided patient-perspective input to operations management and quality improvement committees; developed a pilot patient satisfaction and experience survey; and brought additional perspective, based on learnings from other industries and professions with experience in "customer service," on how to enhance the quality of the patient experience. CONCLUSION: A patient advisory council has the potential to reach beyond simple patient engagement toward functional involvement in decision making about clinic operations.