Patients’ Perceptions of Integrated Care Among Medicare Beneficiaries by Level of Need for Health Services

2022 ◽  
pp. 107755872110678
Author(s):  
Nancy Song ◽  
Molly Frean ◽  
Christian T. Covington ◽  
Maike Tietschert ◽  
Emilia Ling ◽  
...  

Requirements for integrating care across providers, settings, and over time increase with patients’ needs. Health care providers’ ability to offer care that patients experience as integrated may vary among patients with different levels of need. We explore the variation in patients’ perceptions of integrated care among Medicare beneficiaries based on the beneficiary’s level of need using ordinary least square regression for each of four high-need groups: beneficiaries (a) with complex chronic conditions, (b) with frailties, (c) below 65 with disability, and (d) with any (of the first three) high needs. We control for beneficiary demographics and other factors affecting integrated care, and we conduct sensitivity analyses controlling for multiple individual chronic conditions. We find significant positive associations with level of need for provider support for self-directed care and medication and home health management. Controlling for multiple individual chronic conditions reduces effect sizes and number of significant relationships.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sangwani Salimu ◽  
Maggie Woo Kinshella ◽  
Marianne Vidler ◽  
Mwai Banda ◽  
Laura Newberry ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Severe respiratory distress is a leading cause of mortality among neonates in Malawi. Despite evidence on the safety, cost effectiveness and efficacy of bubble continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in managing the condition, its use in Malawian health facilities is limited and little is known about caregivers' engagement with perspectives of bubble CPAP. The purpose of this study was to explore caregiver perspectives for bubble CPAP at both central and district hospitals and key factors that enable effective caregiver engagement in Malawi. Methods This was a descriptive qualitative study employing secondary analysis of 46 health care worker in-depth interviews. We interviewed the health workers about their thoughts on caregiver perspectives regarding use of bubble CPAP. We implemented the study at a tertiary facility and three district hospitals in southern Malawi. This was a part of a larger study to understand barriers and facilitators to implementing neonatal innovations in resource-constrained hospitals. Interviews were thematically analysed in NVivo 12 software (QSR International, Melbourne, Australia). Health workers were purposively selected to include nurses, clinicians and district health management involved in the use of bubble CPAP.Results Emerging issues included caregiver fears around bubble CPAP equipment as potentially harmful to their new-borns and how inadequate information provided to caregivers exacerbated knowledge gaps and was associated with refusal of care. However, good communication between health care providers and caregivers was associated with acceptance of care. Caregivers’ decision-making was influenced by relatives and peer advocates were helpful in supporting caregivers and alleviating fears or misconceptions about bubble CPAP.Conclusions Since caregivers turn to relatives and peers for support, there is need to ensure that both relatives and peers are counselled on bubble CPAP for improved understanding and uptake. Health workers need to provide simplified, accurate, up-to-date information on the intervention as per caregivers’ level of understanding. Notably, contextualised comprehensible information will help alleviate caregivers’ fear and anxieties about bubble CPAP.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathy Kornas ◽  
Meghan O'Neill ◽  
Catherine Y. Liang ◽  
Lori Diemert ◽  
Tsoleen Ayanian ◽  
...  

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to understand health care providers' experiences with delivering a novel Integrated Care (IC) Program that co-ordinates hospital-based clinical services and home care for thoracic surgery patients, including perceptions on the provision of person-centred care and quality of work life.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted a process evaluation using qualitative methods to understand provider experiences in the Integrated Care (IC) Program and to identify areas for programme improvement. Study data were collected using a focus group with thoracic surgeons, open-ended survey with home care providers, and semi-structured interviews with lead thoracic surgeons and IC leads, who are nurses serving as the primary point of contact for one consistent care team. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.FindingsThe IC Program was successful in supporting a partnership between health care providers and patients and caregivers to deliver a comprehensive and person-centred care experience. Informational continuity between providers was facilitated by IC leads and improved over time with greater professional integration and adaptation to the new care delivery processes. Differential impacts were found on quality of work life for providers in the IC Program.Originality/valueThis study describes provider experiences with delivering integrated and person-centred care across the hospital to home continuum, which can inform future integrated care initiatives.


2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 613-620
Author(s):  
Susan L. Mills ◽  
Shabnam Ziabakhsh ◽  
Teresa J. Brady ◽  
Janaki Jayanthan ◽  
Peter M. Sargious

Self-management support initiatives that aim to improve the self-care of chronic conditions are considered a key part of a health promotion strategy for addressing the impacts of long-term illness. Given the growth of these activities and still evolving evidence base, thoughtful intercountry collaborations with subject matter experts can be an effective way to expedite building self-management support capacity, promoting the advancement of evidence, and developing effective policies and programs. The challenge is to find an effective consensus building process that promotes linkages between researchers and health promotion decisions makers across vast geographical boundaries and limited resources. This paper describes the international, multistage, face-to-face, and online process that was used for developing an international framework for self-management support by researchers, educators, health care providers, policy makers, program managers/directors, program planners, consultants, patient group representatives, and consumers in 16 countries. We reflect on key lessons from this international initiative and discuss how this type of process may be useful for other health promotion groups trying to exchange knowledge and build consensus on how to move a field of research, policy, and/or practice forward, and advance the evidence-base of practice and the relevance of research.


Author(s):  
M. Cafaro Gellar ◽  
D. Alter

Objective: There are many factors that can affect appetite in the older adult. Physiological factors affecting appetite can include cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, renal disease, mental health issues, and even side effects of medications. Decreased ability to ambulate due to joint issues or pain can also negatively impact an older adult’s appetite. But perhaps one significant factor that is commonly overlooked is the ill fitting partial or complete denture. According to the American Dental Association, there are approximately 57% of people ages 65 to 74 wearing some form of denture. Due to this large number of denture wearers, it becomes imperative that health care providers learn to incorporate an oral assessment into their plan of care each time an older adult patient is examined. This assessment can assist providers to identify and differentiate unintentional weight loss and loss of appetite as being either part of a disease process or as a symptom of denture issues. Only then can the overall health of the elderly be holistically viewed and treated. The aim of this paper is to provide a summary of published data expressing the nutritional issues that occur in the elderly due to either being edentulous or from wearing improperly fitting dentures.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emre Sezgin ◽  
Monica Weiler ◽  
Anthony Weiler ◽  
Simon Lin

BACKGROUND Chronic disease management is critical to quality of life for both teen patients with chronic conditions and their caregivers. However, current literature is largely limited to a specific digital health tool, method, or approach to manage a specific disease. Guiding principles on how to use digital tools to support the transition to independence are rare. Considering the physiological, psychological, and environmental changes that teens experience, the issues surrounding the transition to independence are worth investigating to develop a deeper understanding to inform future strategies for digital interventions. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to inform the design of digital health solutions by systematically identifying common challenges among teens and caregivers living with chronic diseases. METHODS Chronically ill teens (n=13) and their caregivers (n=13) were interviewed individually and together as a team. Verbal and projective techniques were used to examine teens’ and caregivers’ concerns in-depth. The recorded and transcribed responses were thematically analyzed to identify and organize the identified patterns. RESULTS Teens and their caregivers identified 10 challenges and suggested technological solutions. Recognized needs for social support, access to medical education, symptom monitoring, access to health care providers, and medical supply management were the predominant issues. The envisioned ideal transition included a 5-component solution ecosystem in the transition to independence for teens. CONCLUSIONS This novel study systematically summarizes the challenges, barriers, and technological solutions for teens with chronic conditions and their caregivers as teens transition to independence. A new solution ecosystem based on the 10 identified challenges would guide the design of future implementations to test and validate the effectiveness of the proposed 5-component ecosystem.


Iproceedings ◽  
10.2196/15203 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. e15203
Author(s):  
Nicole Polanco ◽  
Sharon Odametey ◽  
Neda Derakhshani ◽  
Mark Khachaturian ◽  
Connor Devoe ◽  
...  

Background Wellness devices for health tracking have gained popularity in recent years. Additionally, portable and readily accessible wellness devices have several advantages when compared to traditional medical devices found in clinical environments. Building tools for patients to manage their health independently may benefit their health in the long run by improving health care providers’ (HCPs) awareness of their patients’ health information outside of the clinic. Increased access to portable wellness devices that track vital signs may increase how patients and HCPs track and monitor chronic conditions which can improve health outcomes. The VitalWellness is a portable wellness device that can potentially aid vital sign measuring for those interested in tracking their health. Objective In this diagnostic accuracy study, we evaluated the clinical performance of the VitalWellness, a wireless, compact, non-invasive device that measures four vital signs using the index finger and forehead against reference vital signs devices used in the hospital setting. Methods Volunteers age ≥18 years were enrolled to provide blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), and body temperature. We recruited volunteers with vital signs that fell within and outside of the normal physiological range, depending on the measurements they consented to undergo. A subgroup of eligible volunteers were asked to undergo an exercise test, aerobic step test and/or a paced breathing test to analyze the VitalWellness device's performance on vital signs outside of the normal physiological ranges for HR and RR. Vital signs measurements were collected with the VitalWellness device and FDA-approved reference devices. Mean, standard deviation, mean difference, standard deviation of difference, standard error of mean difference, and correlation coefficients were calculated for measurements collected; these measurements were plotted on a scatter plot and a Bland-Altman plot. Sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the performance of the VitalWellness device by gender, skin color, finger size, and in the presence of artifacts. Results We enrolled 265 volunteers in the study and 2 withdrew before study completion. The majority of volunteers were female (62%), predominately white (63%), graduated from college or post college (67%), and employed (59%). There was a moderately strong linear relationship between VitalWellness BP and reference BP (r=0.7, P<.05) and bewteen VitalWellness RR and reference RR measurements (r=0.7, P<.05). The VitalWellness HR readings were significantly in line with the reference HR readings (r=0.9, P<.05). There was a weaker linear relationship between VitalWellness temperature and reference temperature (r=0.3, P<.05). There were no differences in performance of the VitalWellness device by gender, skin color or in the presence of artifacts. Finger size was associated with differential performance for RR. Conclusions Overall, the VitalWellness device performed well in taking BP, HR and RR when compared to FDA-approved reference devices and has potential serve as a wellness device. To test adaptability and acceptability, future research may evaluate user’s interactions and experiences with the VitalWellness device at home. In addition, the next phase of the study will evaluate transmitting vital sign information from the VitalWellness device to an online secured database where information can be shared with HCPs within seconds of measurement.


Author(s):  
Sangwani Salimu ◽  
Maggie Kinshella ◽  
Marianne Marianne ◽  
Mwai Banda ◽  
Laura Newberry ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Severe respiratory distress is a leading cause of mortality among neonates in Malawi. Despite evidence on the safety, cost effectiveness and efficacy of bubble continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in managing the condition, its use in Malawian health facilities is limited and little is known about health workers engagement with perspectives of bubble CPAP. The purpose of this study was to explore caregiver perspectives for bubble CPAP at both central and district hospitals and key factors that enable effective caregiver engagement in Malawi. Methods This was a descriptive qualitative study employing secondary analysis of 46 health care worker in-depth interviews. We interviewed the health workers about their thoughts on caregiver perspectives regarding use of bubble CPAP. We implemented the study at a tertiary facility and three district hospitals in southern Malawi. This was a part of a larger study to understand barriers and facilitators to implementing neonatal innovations in resource-constrained hospitals. Interviews were thematically analysed in NVivo 12 software (QSR International, Melbourne, Australia). Health workers were purposively selected to include nurses, clinicians and district health management involved in the use of bubble CPAP. Results Emerging issues included caregiver fears around bubble CPAP equipment as potentially harmful to their new-borns and how inadequate information provided to caregivers exacerbated knowledge gaps and was associated with refusal of care. However, good communication between health care providers and caregivers was associated with acceptance of care. Caregivers’ decision-making was influenced by relatives and peer advocates were helpful in supporting caregivers and alleviating fears or misconceptions about bubble CPAP. Conclusions Since caregivers turn to relatives and peers for support, there is need to ensure that both relatives and peers are counselled on bubble CPAP for improved understanding and uptake. Health workers need to provide simplified, accurate, up-to-date information on the intervention as per caregivers’ level of understanding. Notably, contextualised comprehensible information will help alleviate caregivers’ fear and anxieties about bubble CPAP. Key words : bubble CPAP, neonates, caregiver, perspectives, peers, Malawi


10.2196/13729 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. e13729 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meia Chita-Tegmark ◽  
Janet M Ackerman ◽  
Matthias Scheutz

Background As robots are increasingly designed for health management applications, it is critical to not only consider the effects robots will have on patients but also consider a patient’s wider social network, including the patient’s caregivers and health care providers, among others. Objective In this paper we investigated how people evaluate robots that provide care and how they form impressions of the patient the robot cares for, based on how the robot represents the patient. Methods We have used a vignette-based study, showing participants hypothetical scenarios describing behaviors of assistive robots (patient-centered or task-centered) and measured their influence on people’s evaluations of the robot itself (emotional intelligence [EI], trustworthiness, and acceptability) as well as people’s perceptions of the patient for whom the robot provides care. Results We found that for scenarios describing a robot that acts in a patient-centered manner, the robot will not only be perceived as having higher EI (P=.003) but will also cause people to form more positive impressions of the patient that the robot cares for (P<.001). We replicated and expanded these results to other domains such as dieting, learning, and job training. Conclusions These results imply that robots could be used to enhance human-human relationships in the health care context and beyond.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S127-S127
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Vietri ◽  
Kelley Meyers ◽  
Christine Poulos ◽  
Erica Chilson ◽  
Carolyn Sweeney ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Pneumococcal vaccine recommendations for US adults are complex, varying by age and underlying conditions, and include both 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will vote on new recommendations in October after the 15- (PCV15) and 20-valent (PCV20) conjugate vaccines are approved. Stakeholder acceptability is part of ACIP’s evidence to recommendation framework, but few data are available on health care providers’ (HCPs) preferences for potential recommendations. Methods 752 HCPs (300 physicians, 150 nurse practitioners, 150 physician assistants, & 152 pharmacists) were surveyed. Object case best-worst scaling (BWS) was used to elicit preferences for hypothetical recommendations for 1) adults 19-64 years with chronic conditions and 2) immunocompetent adults ≥65 years. Presented recommendations included combinations of PCV15/PCV20 either as routine or after shared clinical decision making (SCDM), and PPSV23 as routine, SCDM, or no recommendation. Following BWS, HCPs were asked to assume ACIP was considering implementing both of their preferred recommendations for the age/risk groups. HCPs were then given the opportunity to change their selections and propose recommendations not included in the BWS exercise. Additional information was collected using conventional survey items. Results Routine use of higher-valent PCVs in sequence with PPSV23 was most often preferred for both adults 19-64 with chronic conditions (40%) and immunocompetent adults ≥65 (49%) when elicited separately for each age/risk group. Most respondents (63%) revised their recommendations after considering implementation, which resulted in most (59%) favoring recommendations harmonized across the age/risk groups, and 75% favoring routine use of PCV15 or PCV20 among immunocompetent adults ≥65. When asked directly, HCPs generally approved of the idea of simplifying adult pneumococcal vaccine recommendations, harmonizing the interval between vaccines, and lowering the cutoff for age-based recommendations below 65 years. Conclusion US HCPs generally prefer simplification of the adult pneumococcal recommendation, favoring broad routine use of both higher-valent PCVs and PPSV23. Disclosures Jeffrey Vietri, PhD, Pfizer Inc (Employee, Shareholder) Kelley Meyers, PhD, RTI Health Solutions (Independent Contractor) Christine Poulos, PhD, Pfizer Inc (Other Financial or Material Support, Employee of RTI-HS, which received funds from Pfizer to conduct the study) Erica Chilson, PharmD, Pfizer, Inc (Employee, Shareholder) Vincenza Snow, MD, Pfizer Vaccines (Employee)


Author(s):  
Paolo Zanaboni ◽  
Per Egil Kummervold ◽  
Tove Sørensen ◽  
Monika Alise Johansen

BACKGROUND The electronic health record (EHR) has been fully established in all Norwegian hospitals. Patient-accessible electronic health records (PAEHRs) are available to citizens aged 16 years and older through the national health portal Helsenorge. OBJECTIVE This study aimed at understanding how patients use PAEHRs. Three research questions were addressed in order to explore (1) characteristics of users, (2) patients’ use of the service, and (3) patient experience with the service. METHODS We conducted an online survey of users who had accessed their EHR online at least once through the national health portal. Patients from two of the four health regions in Norway were invited to participate. Quantitative data were supplemented by qualitative information. RESULTS A total of 1037 respondents participated in the survey, most of whom used the PAEHR regularly (305/1037, 29.4%) or when necessary (303/1037, 29.2%). Service utilization was associated with self-reported health, age, gender, education, and health care professional background. Patients found the service useful to look up health information (687/778, 88.3%), keep track of their treatment (684/778, 87.9%), prepare for a hospital appointment (498/778, 64.0%), and share documents with their general practitioner (292/778, 37.5%) or family (194/778, 24.9%). Most users found it easy to access their EHR online (965/1037, 93.1%) and did not encounter technical challenges. The vast majority of respondents (643/755, 85.2%) understood the content, despite over half of them acknowledging some difficulties with medical terms or phrases. The overall satisfaction with the service was very high (700/755, 92.7%). Clinical advantages to the patients included enhanced knowledge of their health condition (565/691, 81.8%), easier control over their health status (685/740, 92.6%), better self-care (571/653, 87.4%), greater empowerment (493/674, 73.1%), easier communication with health care providers (493/618, 79.8%), and increased security (655/730, 89.7%). Patients with complex, long-term or chronic conditions seemed to benefit the most. PAEHRs were described as useful, informative, effective, helpful, easy, practical, and safe. CONCLUSIONS PAEHRs in Norway are becoming a mature service and are perceived as useful by patients. Future studies should include experimental designs focused on specific populations or chronic conditions that are more likely to achieve clinically meaningful benefits. Continuous evaluation programs should be conducted to assess implementation and changes of wide-scale routine services over time.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document