[Continuity of care between levels perceived by users of the health system in Catalonia, Spain]. / La continuidad asistencial entre niveles percibida por usuarios del sistema de salud en cataluña.

BACKGROUND: Rapid technological advances, organizational changes in health services and the rise of complex chronic diseases mean that users receive care from a wide variety of providers, threatening continuity of care (CC). The aim is to analyse users' perception of CC, as well as their experienced elements of (dis)continuity in the Catalonian health services. METHODS: Cross-sectional study by means ofa questionnaire survey to a sample of 200 healthcare users attended by more than one level of care for the same condition in the previous 3 months. The survey was conducted in Barcelona and Baix Empordà, between March and June 2009. The applied questionnaire collected first, the users' trajectories within health services and second, their perception of CC using a scale. A descriptive data analysis was conducted. RESULTS: Important elements of relational continuity were identified (86.4 and 83.5% of users were attended in the last year, respectively, by the same physician of primary and secondary care). However, potential elements of discontinuity were identified relating to transfer of clinical information (29.1% and 21.3% of users perceived that secondary care professionals were unaware of their comorbidities and the results of medical tests ordered by physicians of primary care, respectively), coherence of care (levels of referral to primary care of 51.2 %) and accessibility between levels of care (37.8 and 17.6% considered long or excessive waiting time for secondary and primary care, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The results point to aspects of care, as accessibility and information transfer between professionals that could act as barriers for continuity and would require improvements in the coordination strategies of the health providers.

La continuidad asistencial entre niveles percibida por usuarios del sistema de salud en Cataluña / Continuity of care between levels perceived by users of the health system in catalonia, Spain

Fundamentos: Los avances tecnológicos, cambios organizativos de los servicios y el aumento de las enfermedades crónicas complejas favorecen que los usuarios del sistema de salud sean atendidos por un elevado número de proveedores, amenazando la continuidad asistencial (CA). El objetivo es analizar la valoración de la CA de los usuarios e identificar elementos de (dis)continuidad a partir de sus experiencias en los servicios de salud de Cataluña. Métodos: Estudio transversal, mediante encuesta a 200 usuarios que utilizaron dos niveles asistenciales en los últimos tres meses por un mismo motivo. La encuesta se realizó en Barcelona y Baix Empordà entre los meses de marzo y junio de 2009. Se aplicó un cuestionario que recoge la trayectoria de los usuarios en los servicios de salud y su valoración de la CA, mediante una escala. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo de los resultados. Resultados: Se identifican elementos de continuidad de relación (86,4% y el 83,5% fueron atendidos, respectivamente, por un único médico de atención especializada y de atención primaria en el último año). Por el contrario, se identifican elementos de discontinuidad en la transferencia de información clínica (29,1% y el 21,3% consideró que el médico de la atención especializada desconocía sus comorbilidades y las pruebas realizadas en la atención primaria, respectivamente), en la coherencia del cuidado (niveles de contrarreferencia de 51,2%) y en la accesibilidad entre niveles (37,8% y 17.6% consideraron largo o excesivo el tiempo de espera en atención especializada y primaria, respectivamente). Conclusiones: Se identifican aspectos de la provisión, como accesibilidad y transferencia de información entre profesionales, que podrían indicar barreras a la continuidad y la necesidad de introducir mejoras en las estrategias de coordinación asistencial de las organizaciones sanitarias(AU)

Background: Rapid technological advances, organizational changes in health services and the rise of complex chronic diseases mean that users receive care from a wide variety of providers, threatening continuity of care (CC). The aim is to analyse users’ perception of CC, as well as their experienced elements of (dis)continuity in the Catalonian health services. Methods: Cross-sectional study by means of a questionnaire survey to a sample of 200 healthcare users attended by more than one level of care for the same condition in the previous 3 months. The survey was conducted in Barcelona and Baix Empordà, between March and June 2009. The applied questionnaire collected first, the users’ trajectories within health services and second, their perception of CC using a scale. A descriptive data analysis was conducted. Results: Important elements of relational continuity were identified (86.4 and 83.5% of users were attended in the last year, respectively, by the same physician of primary and secondary care). However, potential elements of discontinuity were identified relating to transfer of clinical information (29.1% and 21.3% of users perceived that secondary care professionals were unaware of their comorbidities and the results of medical tests ordered by physicians of primary care, respectively), coherence of care (levels of referral to primary care of 51.2 %) and accessibility between levels of care (37.8 and 17.6% considered long or excessive waiting time for secondary and primary care, respectively). Conclusions: The results point to aspects of care, as accessibility and information transfer between professionals that could act as barriers for continuity and would require improvements in the coordination strategies of the health providers(AU)

Factores que influyen en la coordinación entre niveles asistenciales según la opinión de directivos y profesionales sanitarios / Factors influencing coordination among healthcare levels according to the opinion of healthcare managers and health professionals

ObjetivoAnalizar la coordinación entre niveles asistenciales desde la perspectiva de directivos y profesionales de organizaciones sanitarias integradas (OSI).MétodosEstudio cualitativo, descriptivo e interpretativo, mediante entrevistas individuales semiestructuradas, con muestreo teórico en dos etapas. En la primera se seleccionaron los contextos (las OSI) y en la segunda los informantes: directivos (n=18) y profesionales (n=23). Análisis de contenido, con generación mixta de categorías y segmentación por temas e informantes.ResultadosLa coordinación entre niveles es definida de diversas formas por los informantes, que coinciden en considerarla complicada, pero necesaria, para la mejora de la eficiencia. Comunicación, conocimiento y relación entre los profesionales emergen como factores determinantes centrales de la coordinación, sobre los que influyen los valores de los profesionales y la existencia de mecanismos apropiados en las instituciones. Ambos dependen de las condiciones estructurales y organizativas, principalmente de carácter interno, aunque también externas a las organizaciones, que determinan su desarrollo. Las estrategias de mejora propuestas se relacionan directamente con los factores identificados.ConclusionesLas opiniones sobre la coordinación asistencial reflejan la complejidad del término y la tradicional separación entre niveles asistenciales. Su mejora requiere acciones organizativas específicas que respondan a los determinantes, no sólo dentro de las organizaciones, sino también entre todos los proveedores de un territorio(AU)

ObjectiveTo analyze coordination among healthcare levels from the viewpoint of healthcare managers and health professionals in integrated healthcare systems (IHS).MethodsA qualitative, exploratory and descriptive study was conducted by means of individual semi-structured interviews to a criterion sample. We performed two-stage sampling: in the first stage, IHS were selected and in the second, managers (n=18) and professionals (n=23). A content analysis was carried out with mixed generation of categories, segmented by themes and informants.ResultsCoordination among healthcare levels was defined differently by the two groups of informants. However, the informants agreed that coordination was complicated but necessary to improve access to and the efficiency of the system. Factors central to achieving coordination were communication, knowledge and good relationships among professionals. These factors were influenced by professionals’ values and the existence of appropriate institutional coordination mechanisms. In turn, these elements depended mainly on internal but also external structural and organizational conditions, which determined the development of coordination. Improvement strategies were directly related to the factors identified.ConclusionsOpinions on healthcare coordination reflect not only the complexity of the concept, but also the traditional separation of healthcare levels. Improving coordination requires specific organizational interventions to address its determinants, not only within but also among all healthcare providers in an area(AU)

[Factors influencing coordination among healthcare levels according to the opinion of healthcare managers and health professionals]. / Factores que influyen en la coordinación entre niveles asistenciales según la opinión de directivos y profesionales sanitarios.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze coordination among healthcare levels from the viewpoint of healthcare managers and health professionals in integrated healthcare systems (IHS). METHODS: A qualitative, exploratory and descriptive study was conducted by means of individual semi-structured interviews to a criterion sample. We performed two-stage sampling: in the first stage, IHS were selected and in the second, managers (n=18) and professionals (n=23). A content analysis was carried out with mixed generation of categories, segmented by themes and informants. RESULTS: Coordination among healthcare levels was defined differently by the two groups of informants. However, the informants agreed that coordination was complicated but necessary to improve access to and the efficiency of the system. Factors central to achieving coordination were communication, knowledge and good relationships among professionals. These factors were influenced by professionals' values and the existence of appropriate institutional coordination mechanisms. In turn, these elements depended mainly on internal but also external structural and organizational conditions, which determined the development of coordination. Improvement strategies were directly related to the factors identified. CONCLUSIONS: Opinions on healthcare coordination reflect not only the complexity of the concept, but also the traditional separation of healthcare levels. Improving coordination requires specific organizational interventions to address its determinants, not only within but also among all healthcare providers in an area.

[Integral health provision by two Catalonian health providing entities (Spain)]. / Integración Asistencial de Dos Organizaciones en Cataluña, España.

OBJECTIVE: Health policies aimed at promoting collaboration amongst providers have led to different initiatives, amongst them integrated healthcare delivery systems (IDS); these have been analysed mainly in the USA but hardly so in Colombia or Spain . This article thus analyses the experience of two IDS in Catalonia for identifying elements for improvement. METHODS: This was a case-study carried out via individual semi-structured interviews and analysing documents. Two IDS were selected; a sample of documents and reports providing information on analysis variables were selected for each case. Content was analysed via mixed categories and segmentation by cases and topics. RESULTS: Both IDS are health-care providing organisations presenting backward vertical integration, having total internal service production and virtual integration of ownership. BSA is funded by providing services whilst SSIBE relies on shareholding via capitation pilot test. Both have closely coordinated multiple managing bodies and have defined overall strategies orientated towards coordination and efficiency; they differ regarding implementation time. BSA has a divisional structure and SSIBE a functional one, organised by transversal areas. Clinical coordination is based on standardising processes and abilities, having few mechanisms for mutual adaptation and disparity in the number of instruments implemented. CONCLUSIONS: Both organisations presented enabling and hindering factors for clinical coordination which would need changes in internal and external components in order to improve overall efficiency and health care continuity.

Integración asistencial de dos organizaciones en Cataluña, España / Integral health provision by two Catalonian health providing entities ( Spain )

Objetivo: El objetivo es analizar la experiencia de dos redes integradas de servicios de salud (RISS ) en Cataluña para identificar elementos de mejora. Métodos: Estudio de casos, mediante análisis de documentos y entrevistas individuales semi-estructuradas. Se seleccionaron dos casos -RISS- y para cada caso, documentos e informantes que proporcionaran información sobre las dimensiones de análisis. Se realizó análisis de contenido con generación mixta de categorías y segmentación por casos y temas. Trabajo de campo en 2004. Resultados: Ambas son organizaciones sanitarias integradas verticalmente hacia atrás, con producción interna total de servicios e integración virtual en la propiedad. Mientras la financiación de BSA es por línea de servicio, SSIBE participa en la prueba piloto de financiación capitativa. Ambas disponen de un gobierno múltiple estrechamente coordinado y han definido estrategias globales orientadas a la coordinación y la eficiencia, con diferencias en cuanto a tiempo de desarrollo. Mientras BSA poseía una estructura divisional, la de SSIBE es funcional por ámbitos transversales. La coordinación asistencial se basa en la normalización de procesos y de habilidades, con escasos mecanismos de adaptación mutua y disparidad en el número de instrumentos implementados. Conclusiones: Ambas organizaciones presentan elementos favorables y desfavorables a la coordinación asistencial, que requerirían cambios en los ámbitos interno y externo, que conduzcan hacia la eficiencia y la continuidad asistencial.

Objective: Health policies aimed at promoting collaboration amongst providers have led to different initiatives, amongst them integrated healthcare delivery systems (IDS); these have been analysed mainly in the USA but hardly so in Colombia or Spain . This article thus analyses the experience of two IDS in Catalonia for identifying elements for improvement. Methods: This was a case-study carried out via individual semi-structured interviews and analysing documents. Two IDS were selected; a sample of documents and reports providing information on analysis variables were selected for each case. Content was analysed via mixed categories and segmentation by cases and topics. Results: Both IDS are health-care providing organisations presenting backward vertical integration, having total internal service production and virtual integration of ownership. BSA is funded by providing services whilst SSIBE relies on shareholding via capitation pilot test. Both have closely coordinated multiple managing bodies and have defined overall strategies orientated towards coordination and efficiency; they differ regarding implementation time. BSA has a divisional structure and SSIBE a functional one, organised by transversal areas. Clinical coordination is based on standardising processes and abilities, having few mechanisms for mutual adaptation and disparity in the number of instruments implemented. Conclusions: Both organisations presented enabling and hindering factors for clinical coordination which would need changes in internal and external components in order to improve overall efficiency and health care continuity.