Factors influencing decision-making processes for unwell residents in residential aged care: Hospital transfer or Residential InReach referral?
Australas J Ageing
; 37(2): E61-E67, 2018 Jun.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29476607
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate decision-making around hospital transfer and/or referral of residents to a Residential InReach (RiR) service in north-eastern metropolitan Melbourne, Australia, from the perspectives of residential aged care facility (RACF) staff, general practitioners (GPs) and RiR registered nurses (RNs).METHODS:
Thirty-one staff from eight RACFs, five GPs and four RiR RNs participated in individual or group interviews.RESULTS:
Residential aged care facility staff and GPs valued and relied upon RiR to manage unwell residents. Thematic analysis identified RiR utilisation was driven by the following (i) complexity of decision-making processes in RACFs; (ii) variability in facility-based medical and nursing care; and (iii) impact of RiR service outcomes on patients and referrers.CONCLUSION:
Availability of timely and appropriate medical and nursing care in RACFs was reported to influence transfers to the hospital and/or referrals to RiR. RiR was used to complement or substitute usual care available to residents. Further research and improvements in RACF and RiR resources are required.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Patient Care Team
/
Referral and Consultation
/
Geriatric Assessment
/
Patient Transfer
/
Clinical Decision-Making
/
Health Services for the Aged
/
Homes for the Aged
/
Nursing Homes
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
Limits:
Aged
/
Aged80
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
Oceania
Language:
En
Journal:
Australas J Ageing
Year:
2018
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Australia