Care transition strategies in Latin American countries: an integrative review.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and analyze available literature on care transition strategies in Latin American countries. METHODS: Integrative literature review that included studies indexed in PubMed, LILACS, Web of Science Core Collection, CINAHL, SCOPUS databases, and the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), published in Portuguese, Spanish or English, between 2010 and 2017. RESULTS: Eleven articles were selected and the strategies were grouped into components of care transition: discharge planning, advanced care planning, patient education and promotion of self-management, medication safety, complete communication of information, and outpatient follow-up. These strategies were carried out by multidisciplinary team members, in which nurses play a leading role in promoting safe care transitions. CONCLUSIONS: Care transition activities are generally initiated very close to patient discharge, this differs from recommendations of care transition programs and models, which suggest implementing care transition strategies from the time of admission until discharge.

Care transition strategies in Latin American countries: an integrative review / Estrategias de transición de cuidados en los países latinoamericanos: una revisión integrativa / Estratégias de transição de cuidados nos países latino-americanos: uma revisão integrativa

Abstract OBJECTIVE To identify and analyze available literature on care transition strategies in Latin American countries. METHODS Integrative literature review that included studies indexed in PubMed, LILACS, Web of Science Core Collection, CINAHL, SCOPUS databases, and the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), published in Portuguese, Spanish or English, between 2010 and 2017. RESULTS Eleven articles were selected and the strategies were grouped into components of care transition: discharge planning, advanced care planning, patient education and promotion of self-management, medication safety, complete communication of information, and outpatient follow-up. These strategies were carried out by multidisciplinary team members, in which nurses play a leading role in promoting safe care transitions. CONCLUSIONS Care transition activities are generally initiated very close to patient discharge, this differs from recommendations of care transition programs and models, which suggest implementing care transition strategies from the time of admission until discharge.

Resumen OBJETIVO Identificar la literatura disponible sobre estrategias de transición del cuidado entre niveles de atención a la salud en países de América Latina. MÉTODOS Revisión integradora que incluyó estudios indexados en las bases de datos PubMed, LILACS, Web of Science Core Collection, CINAHL, Scopus y Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), publicados en portugués, español o inglés, entre 2010 y 2017. RESULTADOS Se seleccionaron once artículos y las estrategias fueron agrupadas en componentes de la transición del cuidado: planificación de alta, planificación anticipada de cuidados, educación del paciente y promoción de la autogestión, seguridad de la medicación, comunicación completa de las informaciones y acompañamiento ambulatorial. Estas estrategias fueron realizadas por miembros del equipo multidisciplinario, en los que las enfermeras desempeñan un papel de liderazgo en la promoción de transiciones de cuidados seguras. CONCLUSIÓN Las actividades de transición del cuidado generalmente se inician muy cerca del alta del paciente, esto difiere de las recomendaciones de programas y modelos de transición de cuidados, que sugieren la implementación de estrategias de transición del cuidado desde el momento de la admisión hasta la alta.

Resumo OBJETIVO Identificar a literatura disponível sobre estratégias de transição do cuidado entre níveis de atenção à saúde em países da América Latina. MÉTODOS Revisão integrativa da literatura que incluiu estudos indexados nas bases de dados PubMed, LILACS, Web of Science Core Collection, CINAHL, SCOPUS e Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), publicados em português, espanhol ou inglês, entre 2010 e 2017. RESULTADOS Onze artigos foram selecionados e as estratégias foram agrupadas em componentes da transição do cuidado: planejamento de alta, planejamento antecipado de cuidados, educação do paciente e promoção do autogerenciamento, segurança da medicação, comunicação completa das informações e acompanhamento ambulatorial. Essas estratégias foram realizadas por membros da equipe multidisciplinar, nas quais enfermeiros desempenham um papel de liderança na promoção de transições de cuidados seguras. CONCLUSÕES As atividades de transição do cuidado geralmente são iniciadas muito próximas da alta do paciente, isso difere das recomendações de programas e modelos de transição de cuidados, que sugerem a implementação de estratégias transição de cuidado desde o momento da admissão até a alta.

The characteristics of stroke units in Ontario: a pan-provincial survey.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated that organized, multidisciplinary care is the cornerstone of current strategies to reduce the death and disability caused by stroke. Identification of stroke units and an understanding of their composition and operation would provide insight for the further actions required to improve stroke care. The objective of this study was to identify and survey stroke units in Canada's largest province, Ontario (population of 13 million) in order to describe availability, structure, staffing, processes of care, and type of population stroke units serve. METHODS: The Ontario Stroke Network (2011) list of stroke units and snowball sampling was used to identify all stroke units. During 2013 - 2014 an interviewer conducted telephone surveys with the stroke unit managers using closed and semi-open ended questions. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize survey responses. RESULTS: The survey identified 32 stroke units, and a respondent from every stroke unit (100% response rate) was interviewed. Twenty one were acute stroke units, 10 were integrated stroke units and one was classified as a rehabilitation stroke unit. Stroke units were available in all 14 Local Health Integration Networks except Central West. The estimated average number of stroke patients served per stroke unit was 604 with six-fold variation (242 to 1480) across the province. The typical population served in stroke units were patients with either ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. Data consistently reported on the processes of stroke care, including the availability of multidisciplinary staff, specific diagnostic imaging, use of validated assessment tools, and the delivery of patient education. Details about the core components of stoke care were provided by 16 stroke units (50%). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the heterogeneous structure of stroke units in Ontario and signaled potential disparity in access to stroke units. Many core components are in place, but half of the stroke units in Ontario do not meet all criteria. Areas for potential improvement include stroke care training for the multidisciplinary team, provision of individualized rehabilitation plans, and early discharge assessment.

A multi-level qualitative analysis of Telehomecare in Ontario: challenges and opportunities.

BACKGROUND: Despite research demonstrating the potential effectiveness of Telehomecare for people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Heart Failure, broad-scale comprehensive evaluations are lacking. This article discusses the qualitative component of a mixed-method program evaluation of Telehomecare in Ontario, Canada. The objective of the qualitative component was to explore the multi-level factors and processes which facilitate or impede the implementation and adoption of the program across three regions where it was first implemented. METHODS: The study employs a multi-level framework as a conceptual guide to explore the facilitators and barriers to Telehomecare implementation and adoption across five levels: technology, patients, providers, organizations, and structures. In-depth semi-structured interviews and ethnographic observations with program stakeholders, as well as a Telehomecare document review were used to elicit key themes. Study participants (n = 89) included patients and/or informal caregivers (n = 39), health care providers (n = 23), technicians (n = 2), administrators (n = 12), and decision makers (n = 13) across three different Local Health Integration Networks in Ontario. RESULTS: Key facilitators to Telehomecare implementation and adoption at each level of the multi-level framework included: user-friendliness of Telehomecare technology, patient motivation to participate in the program, support for Telehomecare providers, the integration of Telehomecare into broader health service provision, and comprehensive program evaluation. Key barriers included: access-related issues to using the technology, patient language (if not English or French), Telehomecare provider time limitations, gaps in health care provision for patients, and structural barriers to patient participation related to geography and social location. CONCLUSIONS: Though Telehomecare has the potential to positively impact patient lives and strengthen models of health care provision, a number of key challenges remain. As such, further implementation and expansion of Telehomecare must involve continuous assessments of what is working and not working with all stakeholders. Increased dialogue, evaluation, and knowledge translation within and across regions to understand the contextual factors influencing Telehomecare implementation and adoption is required. This can inform decision-making that better reflects and addresses the needs of all program stakeholders.