scholarly journals Navigating Pandemic Responsiveness in an Acute Care Setting: A Community Hospital’s Operational Experience with COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesse McLean ◽  
Cathy Clark ◽  
Aidan McKee ◽  
Suzanne Legue ◽  
Jane Cocking ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Care ◽  
Capacity Planning ◽  
Design Thinking ◽  
Workforce Planning ◽  
Workplace Safety ◽  
Community Response ◽  
Communication Strategy ◽  
Operational Experience ◽  
Field Hospital ◽  
Term Care

Abstract Background To ensure continuity of services while mitigating patient surge and nosocomial infections during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, acute care hospitals have been required to make significant operational adjustments. Here, we identify and discuss key administrative priorities and strategies used by a large community hospital located in Barrie, Ontario to manage COVID-19. Methods Guided by a qualitative descriptive approach, we conducted a thematic analysis of all COVID-19-related documentation discussed by the hospital’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) during the first pandemic wave. We solicited operational strategies from administrative leaders to construct a narrative for each theme. Results Seven recurrent themes critical to the hospital’s pandemic response emerged: 1) Organizational Structure: a modified EOC structure was adopted to increase departmental interoperability and situational awareness; 2) Capacity Planning: Design Thinking guided rapid infrastructure decisions to meet surge requirements; 3) Occupational Health and Workplace Safety: a multidisciplinary team provided respirator fit-testing, critical absence adjudication, and wellness needs; 4) Human Resources/Workforce Planning: new workforce planning, recruitment, and redeployment strategies addressed staffing shortages; 5) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): PPE conservation required proactive sourcing from traditional and non-traditional suppliers; 6) Community Response: local partnerships were activated to divert patients through a non-referral-based assessment and treatment centre, support long-term care and retirement homes, and establish a 70-bed field hospital; and 7) Corporate Communication: a robust communication strategy provided timely and transparent access to rapidly evolving information. Conclusions The hospital benefited from an interconnected command structure that focused on inter-operability, communication, novel administrative tools, and community partnerships.

scholarly journals Austria: target country for care workers despite increased anti-migration policies

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Falkenbach
Keyword(s):  
Workforce Planning ◽  
Workplace Safety ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
Eastern European ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Migration Policies ◽  
Private Households ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
The Government ◽  
Eastern European Countries

Abstract Background Austria is facing workforce shortages in long-term care making the country an important destination for migrant care workers, particularly from Eastern European countries. Many of them are working in low-status positions as carers in 24-hours care, although they are often qualified professionals. These 24-hour care positions are often in private households with no regulated workplace safety or standard minimum salaries. Despite this steady flow of migrant carers, shortage of nurses and carers in the country persists and is likely to increase. Methods A rapid review of available data and research was undertaken. Results The migration of nurses to Austria has played a significant role for many years, as the training of certified nurses within the country has only risen marginally. The annual inflow of foreign trained nurses reached a high in 2016 as did the number of 24-hour care workers, most of which are women. The recent cuts by the government towards family allowances for children not living in Austria will hit this population hard. Current anti-migration policies thus take the risk of reducing the numbers of migrant carers, although the government does not have a plan in place on how to fill the gaps and develop more effective health workforce planning and management. Conclusions Growing nationalism, a government pushing towards stricter migration laws and a restrictionist policy stance of unions relative to migrants, all create new threats to a health system heavily dependent on migrant carers.

scholarly journals A 6-Year Review of Carbapenemase-Producing Organisms in Alberta, Canada

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s104-s105
Author(s):  
Ye Shen ◽  
Jennifer Ellison ◽  
Uma Chandran ◽  
Sumana Fathima ◽  
Jamil Kanji ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Care ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Data Sources ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Carbapenemase Gene ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Hospital Acquired ◽  
Alberta Health

Background: This review describes the epidemiology of carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPO) in both the community and hospitalized populations in the province of Alberta. Methods: Newly identified CPO-positive individuals from April 1, 2013, to March 31, 2018, were retrospectively reviewed from 3 data sources, which shared a common provincial CPO case definition: (1) positive CPO results from the Provincial Laboratory for Public Health, which provides all referral and confirmatory CPO testing, (2) CPO cases reported to Alberta Health, and (3) CPO surveillance from Alberta Health Services Infection Prevention and Control (IPC). The 3 data sources were collated, and initial CPO cases were classified according to their likely location of acquisition: hospital-acquired, hospital-identified, on admission, and community-identified. Risk factors and adverse outcomes were obtained from linkage to administrative data. Results: In total, 171 unique individuals were newly identified with a first-time CPO case. Also, 15% (25 of 171) were hospital-acquired (HA), 21% (36 of 171) were hospital-identified (HI), 33% (57 of 171) were on admission, and 31% (53 of 171) were community identified. Overall, 9% (5 of 171) resided in long-term care facilities. Of all patients in acute-care facilities, 30% (35 of 118) had infections and 70% were colonized. Overall, 38% (65 of 171) had an acute-care admission in the 1 year prior to CPO identification; 59% (63 of 106) of those who did not have a previous admission had received healthcare outside Alberta. A large proportion of on-admission cases (81%, 46 of 57) and community-identified (66%, 33 of 53) cases did not have any acute-care admissions in Alberta in the previous year. Overall, 10% (14 of 171) had ICU admissions in Alberta within 30 days of CPO identification, and 5% (8 of 171) died within 30 days. The most common carbapenemase gene identified was NDM-1 (53%, 90 of 171). Conclusions: These findings highlight the robust nature of Alberta’s provincial CPO surveillance network. We reviewed 3 different databases (laboratory, health ministry, IPC) to obtain comprehensive data to better understand the epidemiology of CPO in both the community and hospital settings. More than half of the individuals with CPO were initially identified in the community or on admission. Most had received healthcare outside Alberta, and no acute-care admissions occurred in Alberta in the previous year. It is important to be aware of the growing reservoir of CPO outside the hospital setting because it could impact future screening and management practices.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

scholarly journals The Impact of Function Focused Care From Acute Care to Home Care and Nursing Homes

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 629-629
Author(s):  
Silke Metzelthin ◽  
Sandra Zwakhalen ◽  
Barbara Resnick
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Acute Care ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Functional Decline ◽  
Term Care ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Functional decline in older adults often lead towards acute or long-term care. In practice, caregivers often focus on completion of care tasks and of prevention of injuries from falls. This task based, safety approach inadvertently results in fewer opportunities for older adults to be actively involved in activities. Further deconditioning and functional decline are common consequences of this inactivity. To prevent or postpone these consequences Function Focused Care (FFC) was developed meaning that caregivers adapt their level of assistance to the capabilities of older adults and stimulate them to do as much as possible by themselves. FFC was first implemented in institutionalized long-term care in the US, but has spread rapidly to other settings (e.g. acute care), target groups (e.g. people with dementia) and countries (e.g. the Netherlands). During this symposium, four presenters from the US and the Netherlands talk about the impact of FFC. The first presentation is about the results of a stepped wedge cluster trial showing a tendency to improve activities of daily living and mobility. The second presentation is about a FFC training program. FFC was feasible to implement in home care and professionals experienced positive changes in knowledge, attitude, skills and support. The next presenter reports about significant improvements regarding time spent in physical activity and a decrease in resistiveness to care in a cluster randomized controlled trial among nursing home residents with dementia. The fourth speaker presents the content and first results of a training program to implement FFC in nursing homes. Nursing Care of Older Adults Interest Group Sponsored Symposium

scholarly journals Characterization and evolution of infection control practices among SARS-CoV-2 infected healthcare workers of acute care hospitals and long-term care facilities in Quebec, Canada, Spring 2020

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-37
Author(s):  
Sara Carazo ◽  
Denis Laliberté ◽  
Jasmin Villeneuve ◽  
Richard Martin ◽  
Pierre Deshaies ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Care ◽  
Attack Rate ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Acute Care Hospitals ◽  
Exposure Period ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Facilities

ABSTRACT Objectives: To estimate the SARS-CoV-2 infection rate and the secondary attack rate among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Quebec, the most affected province of Canada during the first wave; to describe the evolution of work-related exposures and infection prevention and control (IPC) practices in infected HCWs; and to compare the exposures and practices between acute care hospitals (ACHs) and long-term care facilities (LTCFs). Design: Survey of cases Participants: Quebec HCWs from private and public institutions with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 diagnosed between 1st March and 14th June 2020. HCWs ≥18 years old, having worked during the exposure period and survived their illness were eligible for the survey. Methods: After obtaining consent, 4542 HCWs completed a standardized questionnaire. COVID-19 rates and proportions of exposures and practices were estimated and compared between ACHs and LTCFs. Results: HCWs represented 25% (13,726/54,005) of all reported COVID-19 cases in Quebec and had an 11-times greater rate than non-HCWs. Their secondary household attack rate was 30%. Most affected occupations were healthcare support workers, nurses and nurse assistants, working in LTCFs (45%) and ACHs (30%). Compared to ACHs, HCWs of LTCFs had less training, higher staff mobility between working sites, similar PPE use but better self-reported compliance with at-work physical distancing. Sub-optimal IPC practices declined over time but were still present at the end of the first wave. Conclusion: Quebec HCWs and their families were severely affected during the first wave of COVID-19. Insufficient pandemic preparedness and suboptimal IPC practices likely contributed to high transmission in both LTCFs and ACHs.

Abstract T P259: What Should Really be Happening to Our Stroke Patients Post-Acute Care?: A System Best Practice Model for Inpatient Rehab

Stroke ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shelley Sharp ◽  
Elizabeth Linkewich ◽  
Jacqueline Willems ◽  
Nicola Tahair ◽  
Charissa Levy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Care ◽  
Stroke Unit ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Patient Flow ◽  
System Capacity ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Practice Model ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Stroke Unit Care ◽  
The Right

Background: A regional Stroke Report Card identified poor performance on system efficiency, effectiveness, and integration of stroke best practice. This engaged regional funders and 17 organizations (11 acute, 6 rehab) to collaborate in stroke system planning. The focus included stroke unit care and access to timely and appropriate rehabilitation, including increased access for severe stroke. Changes in acute care, including pre-hospital, have facilitated access to stroke unit care in the city. A model of patient flow from acute care was needed to understand other system capacity needs. Purpose: To use best practice and benchmarks to delineate post-acute patient flow and facilitate alignment of resources for inpatient rehabilitation. Methods: Administrative data from national reporting and local rehab referral system databases were used to review current system usage from acute care. A model of proportional distribution of cases from acute, specifically to inpatient rehab, was established using provincial benchmarks, evidence informed targets, and organization market share of total inpatient rehab system capacity. Iterative discussions were required to confirm the organizations’ commitment to stroke best practice. New volume and case mix changes were applied to determine capacity and resource planning needs across organizations. Results: The best practice model, approved by all stakeholders, proposes 40% of stroke patients discharged alive from acute care should access inpatient, 13% outpatient rehabilitation and 6% to Complex Continuing Care and Long Term Care. Current practice is 26%, <5% and 13% respectively. A projected volume increase of 278 patients is distributed across 5/6 rehab providers. This results in a total proportional system shift from 20% (n=160) to 41.5% (n =446) of severe patients receiving access to high intensity rehab. A reduction in the overall proportion of moderate and mild stroke patients from 65% (519) to 49.5% (n=534) and 15% (n=119) to 9% (n=96) respectively. Conclusion: Significant investment/redistribution of resources within the system is required to support patient flow and provide care in the right place at the right time. System funder support is critical to create a quality of care (best practice) system.

scholarly journals Automated Nationwide Benchmarking Dashboard for Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs within the Veterans’ Health Administration

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (S1) ◽  
pp. s23-s24
Author(s):  
Michihiko Goto ◽  
Eli Perencevich ◽  
Alexandre Marra ◽  
Bruce Alexander ◽  
Brice Beck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Care ◽  
Antimicrobial Stewardship ◽  
Risk Adjustment ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Antimicrobial Use ◽  
Veterans Health ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Patient Level

Group Name: VHA Center for Antimicrobial Stewardship and Prevention of Antimicrobial Resistance (CASPAR) Background: Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) are advised to measure antimicrobial consumption as a metric for audit and feedback. However, most ASPs lack the tools necessary for appropriate risk adjustment and standardized data collection, which are critical for peer-program benchmarking. We created a system that automatically extracts antimicrobial use data and patient-level factors for risk-adjustment and a dashboard to present risk-adjusted benchmarking metrics for ASP within the Veterans’ Health Administration (VHA). Methods: We built a system to extract patient-level data for antimicrobial use, procedures, demographics, and comorbidities for acute inpatient and long-term care units at all VHA hospitals utilizing the VHA’s Corporate Data Warehouse (CDW). We built baseline negative binomial regression models to perform risk-adjustments based on patient- and unit-level factors using records dated between October 2016 and September 2018. These models were then leveraged both retrospectively and prospectively to calculate observed-to-expected ratios of antimicrobial use for each hospital and for specific units within each hospital. Data transformation and applications of risk-adjustment models were automatically performed within the CDW database server, followed by monthly scheduled data transfer from the CDW to the Microsoft Power BI server for interactive data visualization. Frontline antimicrobial stewards at 10 VHA hospitals participated in the project as pilot users. Results: Separate baseline risk-adjustment models to predict days of therapy (DOT) for all antibacterial agents were created for acute-care and long-term care units based on 15,941,972 patient days and 3,011,788 DOT between October 2016 and September 2018 at 134 VHA hospitals. Risk adjustment models include month, unit types (eg, intensive care unit [ICU] vs non-ICU for acute care), specialty, age, gender, comorbidities (50 and 30 factors for acute care and long-term care, respectively), and preceding procedures (45 and 24 procedures for acute care and long-term care, respectively). We created additional models for each antimicrobial category based on National Healthcare Safety Network definitions. For each hospital, risk-adjusted benchmarking metrics and a monthly ranking within the VHA system were visualized and presented to end users through the dashboard (an example screenshot in Figure 1). Conclusions: Developing an automated surveillance system for antimicrobial consumption and risk-adjustment benchmarking using an electronic medical record data warehouse is feasible and can potentially provide valuable tools for ASPs, especially at hospitals with no or limited local informatics expertise. Future efforts will evaluate the effectiveness of dashboards in these settings.Funding: NoDisclosures: None

scholarly journals Health problems and violence experiences of nurses working in acute care hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home-based long-term care in Germany: A systematic review

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. e0260050
Author(s):  
Andrea Schaller ◽  
Teresa Klas ◽  
Madeleine Gernert ◽  
Kathrin Steinbeißer
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Acute Care ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Acute Care Hospitals ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Care Facilities

Background Working in the nursing sector is accompanied by great physical and mental health burdens. Consequently, it is necessary to develop target-oriented, sustainable profession-specific support and health promotion measures for nurses. Objectives The present review aims to give an overview of existing major health problems and violence experiences of nurses in different settings (acute care hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home-based long-term care) in Germany. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and PubPsych and completed by a manual search upon included studies’ references and health insurance reports. Articles were included if they had been published after 2010 and provided data on health problems or violence experiences of nurses in at least one care setting. Results A total of 29 studies providing data on nurses health problems and/or violence experience were included. Of these, five studies allowed for direct comparison of nurses in the settings. In addition, 14 studies provided data on nursing working in acute care hospitals, ten on nurses working in long-term care facilities, and four studies on home-based long-term care. The studies either conducted a setting-specific approach or provided subgroup data from setting-unspecific studies. The remaining studies did not allow setting-related differentiation of the results. The available results indicate that mental health problems are the highest for nurses in acute care hospitals. Regarding violence experience, nurses working in long-term care facilities appear to be most frequently affected. Conclusion The state of research on setting-specific differences of nurses’ health problems and violence experiences is insufficient. Setting-specific data are necessesary to develop target-group specific and feasible interventions to support the nurses’ health and prevention of violence, as well as dealing with violence experiences of nurses.

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