scholarly journals Customizing a Program for Older Adults Living with Frailty in Primary Care

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 215013272110348
Author(s):  
Jananee Rasiah ◽  
Tammy O’Rourke ◽  
Brian Dompé ◽  
Darryl Rolfson ◽  
Beth Mansell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Nurse Practitioner ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
Health And Social Services ◽  
Frailty Assessment ◽  
Healthcare Improvement

Coordination of primary care is essential to improving care delivery within health systems, especially for older adults with increased health/social needs. A program jointly funded by the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement and Canadian Frailty Network, was implemented in a nurse practitioner-led clinic to address the gap in frailty care for older adults. The clinic was situated within a health and social services organization with a mandate to enhance the quality of life of older adults living in the community. Through this program, a frailty assessment pathway and social/clinical prescriptions were implemented with necessary adaptations as a result of COVID-19.

scholarly journals A Usability and Feasibility Study: GENIE - An App Supporting Self-Management among Older Adults who are High Users of the Health Care System (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruta Valaitis ◽  
Laura Cleghorn ◽  
Ivaylo Vassilev ◽  
Anne Rogers ◽  
Jenny Ploeg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Health And Social Services ◽  
Primary Care Clinicians ◽  
Care System

BACKGROUND Primary care providers have been tasked with fostering self-management through managing referrals and linking patients to community-based health and social services. This study evaluated a web-based tool –GENIE (Generating Engagement in Network InvolvEment)– as a component of the Health TAPESTRY program to support self-management of older adults who are high health care system users. GENIE aims to empower patients to leverage their personal social networks to access community services towards reaching their health goals. GENIE maps client’s personal networks, elicits preferences, and filters local health and social resources from a community service directory based on results of a questionnaire that explores client’s interests. In the Health TAPESTRY program, volunteers conducted home visits to gather health information on tablets and implemented the GENIE tool. A report was generated for the primary care team for follow up. OBJECTIVE This study examined the usability, feasibility, and perceived outcomes of the implementation of GENIE with older adults who were enrolled in Ontario’s Health Links Program, which coordinates care for the highest users of the health care system. METHODS This study involved two primary care clinician focus groups, one clinician interview, a volunteer focus group, client telephone interviews, field observations, and GENIE utilization statistics. RESULTS Eight patients, three volunteers, and 16 primary care clinicians participated. Patients were most interested in services that were health-related (exercise and socialization). Overall, participants perceived GENIE to be useful and easy to use, despite challenges related to email set up, disease terminology, instructions for personal network mapping, and clarity of questionnaire items. Volunteer facilitation was critical to support implementation of Genie. Tool completion averaged 39 minutes. Almost all patients identified a community program or activity of interest using GENIE. Half followed up on health and social services and added new members to their network over 6 months, while one participant lost a member. Clinicians had concerns about accuracy, suitability, and quantity of suggested programs and services generated from the tool and believed that they could better tailor choices for their patients highlighting the inherent tension between user-centred preferences focused on capabilities and bio-medical definitions of need shaping professional judgement. However, clinicians did note that GENIE strengthened their understanding of patients’ personal social networks. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated GENIE’s potential, facilitated by volunteers, to expand patients’ social networks and link them to relevant health and social services to support self-management. Volunteers require training to effectively implement GENIE for self-management support and can help overcome time limitations that primary care clinicians face. Refining the filtering capability of GENIE to allow for better tailoring of results to address the complex needs of those who are high system users may help to improve primary care provider’s confidence in such tools. CLINICALTRIAL Not applicable

scholarly journals Nurse Practitioner–Physician Comanagement of Patients in Primary Care

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 82-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison A. Norful ◽  
Siqin Ye ◽  
Mieke Van der-Biezen ◽  
Lusine Poghosyan
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Nurse Practitioner ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Recommended Care ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Primary Care Services ◽  
Primary Care Delivery

Current demand for primary care services will soon exceed the primary care provider (PCP) workforce capacity. As patient panel sizes increase, it has become difficult for a single PCP to deliver all recommended care. As a result, provider comanagement of the same patient has emerged in practice. Provider comanagement is defined as two or more PCPs sharing care management responsibilities for the same patient. While physician–physician comanagement of patients has been widely investigated, there is little evidence about nurse practitioner (NP)–physician comanagement. Given the large number of NPs that are practicing in primary care, more evidence is warranted about the PCP perspectives of physicians and NPs comanaging patient care. The purpose of this study was to explore NP–physician comanagement in primary care from the perspectives of PCPs. We conducted in-person qualitative interviews of 26 PCPs, including NPs and physicians, that lasted 25 to 45 minutes, were audio recorded, and then professionally transcribed. Transcripts were deidentified and checked for accuracy prior to a deductive and inductive data analysis. Physicians and NPs reported that comanagement increases adherence to recommended care guidelines, improves quality of care, and increases patient access to care. Effective communication, mutual respect and trust, and a shared philosophy of care are essential attributes of NP–physician comanagement. Physicians and NPs are optimistic about comanagement care delivery and find it a promising approach to improve the quality of care and alleviate primary care delivery strain. Efforts to promote effective NP–physician comanagement should be supported in clinical practice.

scholarly journals Evidence for the Effectiveness of Health and Social Services Partnerships

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 225-226
Author(s):  
Traci Wilson ◽  
Suzanne Kunkel ◽  
Amanda Brewster ◽  
Jane Straker ◽  
Elizabeth Blair ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Independent Living ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
Care Utilization ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Health And Social Services ◽  
Community Based Organizations

Abstract Integration of health and social services is touted as a key method to address social needs and improve population health. We will share the latest evidence on how Area Agency on Aging (AAA) partnerships with health care entities and other organizations improve health outcomes for older adults, while reducing health care costs. AAAs are community leaders in cross-sectoral partnerships that effectively address social determinants of health for older adults, who account for a substantial share of overall health care spending. Results of a longitudinal study (2008 – 2016) which links data from four waves of the National Surveys of AAAs to data on county-level health outcomes show that AAA–health care partnerships and programs reduced health care utilization and costs. AAA partnerships with hospitals reduced Medicare spending by $136 per beneficiary. AAA involvement in evidence-based health promotion programs decreased potentially avoidable nursing home use by nearly one percentage point (representing a change of 6.5%). Finally, we will describe the prevalence and nature of contracting relationships between community-based organizations and health care entities, based on data from the 2020 CBOs and Health Care Contracting Request for Information, the third national RFI of AAAs, Centers for Independent Living, and other aging and disability community-based organizations.

scholarly journals HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS’ EXPERIENCES IN CARING FOR OLDER ADULTS WITH MULTIPLE CHRONIC CONDITIONS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S317-S318
Author(s):  
Jenny Ploeg ◽  
Marie-Lee Yous ◽  
Kimberly Fraser ◽  
Sinéad Dufour ◽  
Sharon Kaasalainen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Chronic Conditions ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Multiple Chronic Conditions ◽  
Team Approach ◽  
Personal Support

Abstract The management of multiple chronic conditions (MCC) in older adults living in the community is complex. Little is known about the experiences of interdisciplinary primary care and home providers who care for this vulnerable group. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of healthcare providers in managing the care of community-living older adults with MCC and to highlight their recommendations for improving care delivery for this group. A qualitative interpretive description design was used. A total of 42 healthcare providers from two provinces in Canada participated in semi-structured interviews. Participants represented diverse disciplines (e.g., physicians, nurses, social workers, personal support workers) and settings (e.g., primary care and home care). Thematic analysis was used to analyze interview data. The experiences of healthcare providers managing care for older adults with MCC were organized into six major themes: (1) managing complexity associated with MCC, (2) implementing person-centred care, (3), involving and supporting family caregivers, (4) using a team approach for holistic care delivery, (5) encountering rewards and challenges in caring for older adults with MCC, and (6) recommending ways to address the challenges of the healthcare system. Healthcare providers highlighted the need for a more comprehensive integrated system of care to improve care management for older adults with MCC and their family caregivers. Specifically, they suggested increased care coordination, more comprehensive primary care visits with an interprofessional team, and increased home care support.

scholarly journals Quality of life of older Chinese adults receiving primary care in Wuhan, China: a multi-center study

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e6860 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bao-Liang Zhong ◽  
Yan-Min Xu ◽  
Wu-Xiang Xie ◽  
Xiu-Jun Liu
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
General Population ◽  
Geriatric Depression Scale ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Psychosocial Problems ◽  
Medical Conditions ◽  
Multi Center Study

Background Quality of life (QOL) is an important primary care outcome, but the QOL of older adults treated in primary care is understudied in China. This study examined QOL and its associated factors in older adults treated in Chinese primary care. Methods A total of 752 older patients (65+ years) were consecutively recruited from 13 primary care centers in Wuhan, China, and interviewed with a standardized questionnaire, concerning socio-demographics, major medical conditions, loneliness, and depression. QOL and depression were measured with the Chinese six-item QOL questionnaire and the shortened Geriatric Depression Scale, respectively. Multiple linear regression was used to identify factors associated with poor QOL. Results The average QOL score of primary care older adults was (20.7 ± 2.5), significantly lower than that of the Chinese general population. Factors significantly associated with poor QOL of Chinese primary care older adults included engaging in manual labor before older adulthood (unstandardized coefficient [β]: −0.702, P < 0.001), no living adult children (β: −1.720, P = 0.001), physical inactivity (β: −0.696, P < 0.001), having ≥ four major medical conditions (β: −1.813, P < 0.001), hearing problem (β: −1.004, P = 0.017), depression (β: −1.153, P < 0.001), and loneliness (β: −1.396, P < 0.001). Conclusions Older adults treated in Chinese primary care have poorer QOL than the general population. Addressing psychosocial problems at Chinese primary care settings could be helpful in improving QOL in Chinese older adults.

scholarly journals The role of Clinical-Functional Vulnerability Index-20 to detect quality of life in older adults assisted in primary care

2021 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-87
Author(s):  
Levi Bezerra Sena ◽  
Larissa Paixão Batista ◽  
Flávia Fonseca Fernandes ◽  
Alfredo Nicodemos Cruz Santana
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Vulnerability Index

Preparing for an Epidemic: Cancer Care in an Aging Population

2014 ◽  
pp. 133-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ya-Chen Tina Shih ◽  
Arti Hurria
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Quality Care ◽  
Aging Population ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Cancer Drug ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Evidence Based Care

The Institute of Medicine's (IOM) Committee on Improving the Quality of Cancer Care: Addressing the Challenges of an Aging Population was charged with evaluating and proposing recommendations on how to improve the quality of cancer care, with a specific focus on the aging population. Based on their findings, the IOM committee recently released a report highlighting their 10 recommendations for improving the quality of cancer care. Based on those recommendations, this article highlights ways to improve evidence-based care and addresses rising costs in health care for older adults with cancer. The IOM highlighted three recommendations to address the current research gaps in providing evidence-based care in older adults with cancer, which included (1) studying populations which match the age and health-risk profile of the population with the disease, (2) legislative incentives for companies to include patients that are older or with multiple morbidities in new cancer drug trials, and (3) expansion of research that contributes to the depth and breadth of data available for assessing interventions. The recommendations also highlighted the need to maintain affordable and accessible care for older adults with cancer, with an emphasis on finding creative solutions within both the care delivery system and payment models in order to balance costs while preserving quality of care. The implementation of the IOM's recommendations will be a key step in moving closer to the goal of providing accessible, affordable, evidence-based, high-quality care to all patients with cancer.

scholarly journals Development of the conceptual framework for a quality improvement training programme for health professionals in the ministry of health and social services in Namibia

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Julia Paul Nangombe ◽  
Hans Justus Amukugo
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Training Programme ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Ministry Of Health ◽  
Quality Health Care ◽  
Health And Social Services

This article describe the process followed by the researcher in the development of the conceptual framework for a quality improvement training programme for health professionals in the Ministry of Health and Social Services in Namibia. The conceptual framework of this study was based on the Practice Orientated Theory of Dickoff (1968) that assisted with explaining the concepts used in developing the quality improvement training programme for health professionals at the health facilities. Dickoff’ s (1968) practice orientated theory consists of the agent, recipients, context, procedure, dynamics, and the terminus. In this study, the agent was a quality specialist, the recipients were health professionals, the context was the health facilities, the dynamics were challenges that health professionals were experiencing; the procedure was the training programme, while the terminus was knowledgeable and skillful health professionals in quality health care delivery.

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