Expansion of a Web-Based Platform to Support Caregivers in California Using CareNav

Abstract About one in five Americans is engaged in providing care to a family member. Caregivers (unpaid family members or friends) support older adults and persons with disability with a variety of conditions, including challenges in physical, cognitive, and mental health. In California, 4.5 million family caregivers are assisting individuals over the age of 18. The CA Department of Health Care Services funds 11 Caregiver Resource Centers (CRC) to support caregivers and, in 2019, provided support to expand information technology services through adoption of a statewide online assessment platform and client portal, CareNav™, to serve as a client record and referral tool. CareNav™ facilitates collection of consistent state-wide data that can inform program improvement and policy. This study evaluated the implementation process from the perspective of 35 CRC team members in guided focus group discussions. CRC staff identified several potential benefits to adopting CareNav™, including ease of client access and convenience, the ability to aggregate data to inform planning and policy, and a streamlined process for resource sharing. Challenges included customizing site-specific data needs, as well as concerns about equitable access to internet services. Ongoing evaluation will focus on validation and visualization of data, and translation of data into actionable information to improve quality and reach.

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How do members of a fire and rescue service perceive expanding their roles to deliver more health care services?

Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/pubmed/fdy148 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 41 (3) ◽

pp. 593-599

Author(s):

L M T Byrne-Davis ◽

D Marchant ◽

E R Bull ◽

D Gyles ◽

E Dean ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care Services ◽

Fire Service ◽

Team Members ◽

Rescue Service ◽

Health And Wellbeing ◽

Care Services ◽

Medical Response ◽

Role Expansion ◽

Emergency Medical Response ◽

Response Trial

Abstract Background Increasingly, public sector workers are being required to expand their roles into public health. Fire and rescue services, as part of the Emergency Medical Response trial, are at the forefront of role expansion, with increasing capacity due to reducing numbers of fires in recent years. Firefighter roles, successfully implemented, include responding to cardiac arrests and conducting checks on health and wellbeing in people’s own homes. In this study, we explored fire service members’ perceptions about this role expansion, to increase understanding of how role expansion can be introduced and supported. Methods We interviewed 21 firefighters and team members about their perceptions of new roles. Interviews were conducted, transcribed and thematically analysed until reaching thematic saturation. Results Perspectives differed for responding to cardiac arrests and wellbeing checks. Cardiac arrests were seen as aligned with core roles and thus more acceptable. For both types of new role participants wanted more training and opportunities to provide feedback on implementation. Conclusions How team members viewed role expansion depended on new role alignment with core role, training and being able to give feedback to management to shape future services.

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PP090 Reducing Low-Value Practices In Catalonia: Essencial Project

International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care ◽

10.1017/s0266462317002562 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 33 (S1) ◽

pp. 112-113

Author(s):

Cari Almazan ◽

Johanna Caro

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Health Care Services ◽

Implementation Process ◽

Healthcare Services ◽

Care Level ◽

Primary Care Level ◽

Care Services ◽

Baseline Status ◽

The Impact

INTRODUCTION:In 2013 the Essencial Project launched in Catalonia promotes the identification of low-value practices (LVP) by healthcare professionals and elaborates recommendations to avoid them. This project aims to reduce unnecessary care of health care services which harm outweighs the benefits, resulting in physical, psychological to the patients and wasteful healthcare services. The main objectives are to describe the implementation process at the primary care level and to evaluate the impact of recommendations on general practitioners (GPs) practice.METHODS:The implementation process consists in:(i) Nomination of clinical leaders to promote the project among their primary care teams (PCT) and to lead the implementation activities by identification of barriers and enablers for change in clinical practice towards avoiding LVP.(ii) Selection of recommendations to be implemented and definition of corresponding activities to be carried out by each PCT according to the specific characteristics of their organizations.(iii) Development of related indicators and comparison between baseline statusRESULTS:One hundred and sixteen PCT (covering 30 percent of the Catalan population) participated in the pilot experience of implementation. Twenty-one recommendations were selected such as: bisphosphonates in post-menopausal women with low risk of fracture, PSA screening and statins for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease, among others. At 12 month follow-up, use of bisphosphonates were reduced by 21 percent (p = .0005), PSA was reduced by 14 percent (p = .0009). The use of other treatments such as antidepressants, benzodiazepines for some specific clinical conditions decreases with no statistically significant changes.CONCLUSIONS:This is the first experience in Catalonia and Spain of implementation of the recommendations to avoid LVP with early involvement of target professionals. Follow-up results provide information about the early impact of recommendations at primary care level. Our challenge is to implement the recommendations at hospital level.

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Public health job vacancies — who wants what, where?

Australian Health Review ◽

10.1071/ah050226 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 29 (2) ◽

pp. 226 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Arie Rotem ◽

John C Dewdney ◽

Nadine A Mallock ◽

Tanya R Jochelson

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Services ◽

Well Being ◽

Role Clarity ◽

Team Members ◽

Effective Teams ◽

Quality Patient Care ◽

Care Services ◽

Antecedent Conditions ◽

Team Evaluation

While it is recognised that effective health care teams are associated with quality patient care, the literature is comparatively sparse in defining the outcomes of effective teamwork. This literature review of the range of organisational, team and individual benefits of teamwork complements an earlier article which summarised the antecedent conditions for (input) and team processes (throughput) of effective teams. This article summarises the evidence for a range of outcome measures of effective teams. Organisational benefits of teamwork include reduced hospitalisation time and costs, reduced unanticipated admissions, better accessibility for patients, and improved coordination of care. Team benefits include efficient use of health care services, enhanced communication and professional diversity. Patients report benefits of enhanced satisfaction, acceptance of treatment and improved health outcomes. Finally, team members report enhanced job satisfaction, greater role clarity and enhanced well-being. Due to the inherent complexity of teamwork, a constituency model of team evaluation is supported where key stakeholders identify and measure the intended benefits of a team.

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