Who’s in charge? Results from a qualitative study of caregiver perspectives on the care transition process

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Shirley ◽  
Nathaniel Erskine ◽  
David D McManus ◽  
Catarina I Kiefe ◽  
Milena Anatchkova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Care Transitions ◽  
Transition Process ◽  
Care Transition ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Medical Provider ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Health Insurance Status

Background: Care transitions are a topic of increasing interest as researchers and clinicians focus their effects on patient outcomes. Engaging caregivers, who play important roles in care transitions, may yield valuable insight into how care transition processes can be improved. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews, focusing on caregivers’ experiences with and perceptions of care transitions, with 11 eligible caregivers whose loved ones had recently experienced an unplanned admission to a single academic medical center. Our research team analyzed the transcripts to identify key themes.Results: Caregivers detailed multiple factors affecting care transitions, including both in-hospital and external elements. Identifying the medical provider in charge of care emerged as a common difficulty. Other areas of interest included receiving discharge information, length of stay, health insurance status, the presence of social support, access to transportation and educational level, among others. Caregivers’ views on the quality of various in-hospital aspects of their own care transition experiences varied.Conclusions: Caregivers re-affirmed the complexity of the care transition process by identifying myriad factors that influence their quality. Taking steps to address these factors may help hospitals to empower and engage caregivers, as well as to improve care transitions overall and better manage the health of their patients.

scholarly journals Evidence based processes to prevent readmissions: more is better, a ten-site observational study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Pugh ◽  
Lauren S. Penney ◽  
Polly H. Noël ◽  
Sean Neller ◽  
Michael Mader ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Observational Study ◽  
Transitional Care ◽  
Hospital Readmissions ◽  
Care Transitions ◽  
Transition Process ◽  
Care Transition ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Transition Processes ◽  
Recommended Care

Abstract Background 30-day hospital readmissions are an indicator of quality of care; hospitals are financially penalized by Medicare for high rates. Numerous care transition processes reduce readmissions in clinical trials. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between the number of evidence-based transitional care processes used and the risk standardized readmission rate (RSRR). Methods Design: Mixed method, multi-stepped observational study. Data collection occurred 2014–2018 with data analyses completed in 2021. Setting: Ten VA hospitals, chosen for 5-year trend of improving or worsening RSRR prior to study start plus documented efforts to reduce readmissions. Participants: During five-day site visits, three observers conducted semi-structured interviews (n = 314) with staff responsible for care transition processes and observations of care transitions work (n = 105) in inpatient medicine, geriatrics, and primary care. Exposure: Frequency of use of twenty recommended care transition processes, scored 0–3. Sites’ individual process scores and cumulative total scores were tested for correlation with RSRR. Outcome: best fit predicted RSRR for quarter of site visit based on the 21 months surrounding the site visits. Results Total scores: Mean 38.3 (range 24–47). No site performed all 20 processes. Two processes (pre-discharge patient education, medication reconciliation prior to discharge) were performed at all facilities. Five processes were performed at most facilities but inconsistently and the other 13 processes were more varied across facilities. Total care transition process score was correlated with RSRR (R2 = 0..61, p < 0.007). Conclusions Sites making use of more recommended care transition processes had lower RSRR. Given the variability in implementation and barriers noted by clinicians to consistently perform processes, further reduction of readmissions will likely require new strategies to facilitate implementation of these evidence-based processes, should include consideration of how to better incorporate activities into workflow, and may benefit from more consistent use of some of the more underutilized processes including patient inclusion in discharge planning and increased utilization of community supports. Although all facilities had inpatient social workers and/or dedicated case managers working on transitions, many had none or limited true bridging personnel (following the patient from inpatient to home and even providing home visits). More investment in these roles may also be needed.

scholarly journals Understanding the impact of the SARS-COV-2 pandemic on hospitalized patients with substance use disorder

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e0247951
Author(s):  
Caroline King ◽  
Taylor Vega ◽  
Dana Button ◽  
Christina Nicolaidis ◽  
Jessica Gregg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Substance Use Disorder ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Care Transitions ◽  
Hospitalized Patients ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Hospital Policy ◽  
Semantic Level ◽  
The Impact

Background The SARS-COV-2 pandemic rapidly shifted dynamics around hospitalization for many communities. This study aimed to evaluate how the pandemic altered the experience of healthcare, acute illness, and care transitions among hospitalized patients with substance use disorder (SUD). Methods We performed a qualitative study at an academic medical center in Portland, Oregon, in Spring 2020. We conducted semi-structured interviews, and conducted a thematic analysis, using an inductive approach, at a semantic level. Results We enrolled 27 participants, and identified four main themes: 1) shuttered community resources threatened patients’ basic survival adaptations; 2) changes in outpatient care increased reliance on hospitals as safety nets; 3) hospital policy changes made staying in the hospital harder than usual; and, 4) care transitions out of the hospital were highly uncertain. Discussion Hospitalized adults with SUD were further marginalized during the SARS-COV-2 pandemic. Systems must address the needs of marginalized patients in future disruptive events.

Patient Involvement in Anesthesia Decision-making: A Qualitative Study of Knee Arthroplasty

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veena Graff ◽  
Justin T. Clapp ◽  
Sarah J. Heins ◽  
Jamison J. Chung ◽  
Madhavi Muralidharan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Shared Decision Making ◽  
Knee Arthroplasty ◽  
Patient Involvement ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Shared Decision ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Primary Knee Arthroplasty

Background Calls to better involve patients in decisions about anesthesia—e.g., through shared decision-making—are intensifying. However, several features of anesthesia consultation make it unclear how patients should participate in decisions. Evaluating the feasibility and desirability of carrying out shared decision-making in anesthesia requires better understanding of preoperative conversations. The objective of this qualitative study was to characterize how preoperative consultations for primary knee arthroplasty arrived at decisions about primary anesthesia. Methods This focused ethnography was performed at a U.S. academic medical center. The authors audio-recorded consultations of 36 primary knee arthroplasty patients with eight anesthesiologists. Patients and anesthesiologists also participated in semi-structured interviews. Consultation and interview transcripts were coded in an iterative process to develop an explanation of how anesthesiologists and patients made decisions about primary anesthesia. Results The authors found variation across accounts of anesthesiologists and patients as to whether the consultation was a collaborative decision-making scenario or simply meant to inform patients. Consultations displayed a number of decision-making patterns, from the anesthesiologist not disclosing options to the anesthesiologist strictly adhering to a position of equipoise; however, most consultations fell between these poles, with the anesthesiologist presenting options, recommending one, and persuading hesitant patients to accept it. Anesthesiologists made patients feel more comfortable with their proposed approach through extensive comparisons to more familiar experiences. Conclusions Anesthesia consultations are multifaceted encounters that serve several functions. In some cases, the involvement of patients in determining the anesthetic approach might not be the most important of these functions. Broad consideration should be given to both the applicability and feasibility of shared decision-making in anesthesia consultation. The potential benefits of interventions designed to enhance patient involvement in decision-making should be weighed against their potential to pull anesthesiologists’ attention away from important humanistic aspects of communication such as decreasing patients’ anxiety. Editor’s Perspective What We Already Know about This Topic What This Article Tells Us That Is New

scholarly journals EMERGING MODELS OF CARE: THE IMPACT OF PHARMACIST-LED MEDICATION MANAGEMENT IN A TRANSITIONAL CARE PROGRAM

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S708-S708
Author(s):  
Ebony Andrews ◽  
Travonia Brown-Hughes ◽  
Ronald Lyon ◽  
Shanea D Parker ◽  
Brad Lazernick
Keyword(s):  
Transitional Care ◽  
Medication Management ◽  
Hospital Readmissions ◽  
Care Transitions ◽  
Patient Activation ◽  
Care Program ◽  
Transition Process ◽  
Models Of Care ◽  
Care Transition ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Transitional care programs have emerged as successful models of care in which to reduce cost and improve health outcomes. However, few transitional care models have directly incorporated the expertise of the pharmacist as an integral member of the care coordination team. Therein lies an inherent limitation of many community-based transitional care programs, the underutilization of pharmacist during all stages of the care transition process. In 2013, the Hampton Roads Care Transitions Project (HRCTP), a partnership between Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia Area Agency on Aging in Norfolk, VA and Hampton University School of Pharmacy, was established. The goal of the HRCTP is to provide medication management services to reduce preventable hospital readmissions for adults 60 years of age and older with targeted diagnoses. Pharmacists work in collaboration with social workers who act as HRCTP care transition coaches. Between May 2017- October 2018, 678 patients were enrolled in the HRCTP. The hospital readmission rate among patients with targeted diagnoses was reduced by 55.3% with an absolute percentage point reduction of 9.9% and estimated savings amount per avoided readmission of $14,400. Patients who participated in the HRCTP showed a 14% increase in the Patient Activation Assessment indicating an improvement in self-managing efficacy. 93% of patients/caregivers indicated they felt more confident in their ability to manage their health, and 91% expressed satisfaction with the program. The program has proven effective in assisting seniors to remain in their home, reducing hospitalizations, promoting health, increasing patient satisfaction, and reducing healthcare cost.

scholarly journals Physicians as Advisors Not Leaders of Multidisciplinary Teams: A Qualitative Study of an Innovative Practice

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eliezer Mendelev ◽  
Madhu Mazumdar ◽  
Laurie Keefer ◽  
Ksenia Gorbenko
Keyword(s):  
Medical Home ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Leadership Role ◽  
Multidisciplinary Teams ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Home Team ◽  
Team Meetings ◽  
Physician Role

Abstract Background and Aims As various models of team-based chronic disease management have proliferated, physicians have assumed the leadership role in most of them. However, physician time is costly, and regular attendance of team meetings adds another task to a long list of responsibilities. This is the first study to explore the role of physicians as advisors rather than leaders of a multidisciplinary team. Methods We conducted an exploratory qualitative research study of a subspecialty medical home located within a tertiary academic medical center that cares for highly complex pediatric and adult patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. The medical home team consists of a psychologist, dieticians, social workers, a clinical pharmacist, and nurses. No physicians regularly attend team meetings. We conducted semi-structured interviews with nonphysician team members (N = 11) and gastroenterologists (N = 6). Two authors coded interview transcripts in NVivo 11 for themes related to “physician role” using an inductive qualitative analysis approach. Results Nonphysician participant believed gastroenterologists did not need to attend weekly meetings. Having only nonphysician personnel in the room made them feel more empowered to openly express their views. Gastroenterologists expressed interest in attending one or more, but not all meetings, in order to better understand the process of the team and desired a more formal feedback loop for staying informed about their patients’ progress. Conclusions Our findings suggest that gastroenterologist participation may not require regular attendance of team meetings. Team meeting consisting of nonphysician providers would result in cost savings and may empower nonphysician providers.

Factors Affecting the Adoption of Entertainment Mobile Applications in Iran

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 67-79
Author(s):  
Sina Baghbaniyazdi ◽  
Amir Ekhlassi ◽  
Kamal Sakhdari
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Mobile Application ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Application Development ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Whole Process ◽  
Research On Application

While previous research on application adoption has partly advanced our understanding of factors affecting the adoption of mobile applications, less attention has been given to the whole process of application development, from idea characteristics to the supportive activities after launch. In particular, less is known about these factors in the context of developing countries, where mobile applications are gaining increasing popularity. In this vein, this paper, adopting a grounded theory approach, aims to identify factors influencing the adoption of entertainment mobile application from the developer's points of view focusing on different phases of application development in the novel context of Iran. The authors' in-depth semi-structured interviews with experts in mobile application development firms indicate 15 factors classified within four categories based on the application development process, entailing idea characteristics, design, marketing communications and supportive activities. The implications of these findings provides valuable insight into why some mobile applications are more successful than others.

scholarly journals The influence of experiential knowledge and societal perceptions on decision-making regarding non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT)

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Montgomery ◽  
Zaneta M. Thayer
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Genetic Information ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Prenatal Testing ◽  
Experiential Knowledge ◽  
Rural Setting ◽  
Emotional Impact ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Non Invasive

Abstract Background Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) allows women to access genetic information about their fetuses without the physical risk inherent to prior testing methods. The advent of NIPT technology has led to concerns regarding the quality and process of informed consent, as a view of NIPT as “routine” could impair women’s considered approach when choosing to undergo testing. Prior studies evaluating NIPT decision-making have focused on the clinical encounter as the primary environment for acquisition of biomedical information and decision formation. While important, this conceptualization fails to consider how additional sources of knowledge, including embodied and empathetic experiential knowledge, shape perceptions of risk and the societal use of NIPT. Methods In order to address this issue, qualitative, semi-structured interviews with 25 women who had been offered NIPT were performed. Participants came from a well-resourced, rural setting near a major academic medical center in the US. Women were categorized by NIPT use/non-use as well as whether their described decision-making process was perceived as making a significant decision requiring contemplation (“significant”) versus a rapid or immediate decision (“routinized”). A constructivist general inductive approach was used to explore themes in the data, develop a framework of NIPT decision-making, and compare the perceptions of women with differential decision-making processes and outcomes. Results A framework for decision-making regarding NIPT was developed based on three emergent factors: perceptions of the societal use of NIPT, expected emotional impact of genetic information, and perceived utility of genetic information. Analysis revealed that perceptions of widespread use of NIPT, pervasive societal narratives of NIPT use as “forward-thinking,” and a perception of information as anxiety-relieving contributed to routinized uptake of NIPT. In contrast, women who displayed a lack of routinization expressed fewer stereotypes regarding the audience for NIPT and relied on communication with their social networks to consider how they might use the information provided by NIPT. Conclusions The findings of this study reveal the societal narratives and perceptions that shape differential decision-making regarding NIPT in the U.S. context. Understanding and addressing these perceptions that influence NIPT decision-making, especially routinized uptake of NIPT, is important as the use and scope of this technology increases.

Redesigning care coordination from the patient’s perspective.

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (29_suppl) ◽  
pp. 6-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Liu ◽  
Aarti Bhardwaj ◽  
Carol Kisswany ◽  
Cardinale B. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Healthcare Utilization ◽  
Patient Experience ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Single Point ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Care Transitions ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Chemotherapy Administration

6 Background: Cancer patients are frequently admitted to the hospital requiring medical oncologists to take an active role in coordinating with multiple teams. In an effort to redesign care to put patients at the center and address increasing demands on our medical oncologist’s time, we created the Oncology Coordinator (OC) role focused on care setting transitions. We aimed to evaluate whether the OC would improve quality of care and decrease healthcare utilization. Methods: The OCs, are non-clinical and serve as a single point of contact for disease-based teams as patients prepare for elective admissions or discharge from the hospital. The 3 OCs received specialized training in systems and processes in both settings. They coordinate outpatient appointments, prescription delivery, transportation while also providing clinical support. Additionally, they facilitate two interdisciplinary rounds per day across three dedicated oncology units and assist with patients off-unit. We evaluated all patient discharges facilitated by the OCs during 1/1/19-2/29/20 and compared that to non-OC facilitated discharges. Using descriptive statistics, we evaluated the OCs impact on 7- and 30-day readmissions, discharge before noon rate (DBN), average time from admission to chemotherapy start and patient experience as measured by Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS). Results: We had a total of 2,818 discharges between 1/1/19-2/29/20; 1,032 (36.6%) facilitated by the OCs. For those OC facilitated discharges we observed a 5.07% reduction in 7-day readmissions and 30-day readmissions (2.6%). We observed an overall higher average monthly rate of DBN (4.85%) compared to non-OC facilitated discharges. In addition, the average time from admission to chemotherapy administration decreased by 1 hour 31 minutes (6.8%) for the OC facilitated admissions. In the HCAHPS survey, there were improvements in Discharge Information and Care Transitions on the inpatient units where OCs were most active. Conclusions: At our academic medical center, the OCs have contributed to reduction in readmissions, time from admission to chemotherapy administration as well as improvements in discharges before noon and patient experience. This pilot demonstrates that investment in dedicated lay staff to facilitate admissions and discharges for cancer patients across care settings could lead to meaningful improvements in healthcare utilization, quality and the patient experience. Future work will evaluate the sustainability of this program and evaluate association with healthcare costs.

Factors Affecting Compliance With Myringotomy Tube Follow-up Care

2022 ◽  
pp. 000348942110722
Author(s):  
Helen H. Soh ◽  
Katherine R. Keefe ◽  
Madhav Sambhu ◽  
Tithi D. Baul ◽  
Dillon B. Karst ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Center ◽  
Private Insurance ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Tube Placement ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Urban Safety

Objective: Myringotomy and tube insertion is a commonly practiced procedure within pediatric otolaryngology. Though relatively safe, follow-up appointments are critical in preventing further complications and monitoring for improvement. This study sought to evaluate the factors associated with compliance of post-myringotomy follow-up visits in an urban safety-net tertiary care setting. Methods: This study is a retrospective chart review conducted in outpatient otolaryngology clinic at an urban, safety-net, tertiary-care, academic medical center. All patients from ages 0 to 18 who received myringotomy and tube placement between February 3, 2012, to May 30, 2018 at the aforementioned clinic were included. Results: A total of 806 patients had myringotomy tubes placed during this period; 190 patients were excluded due to no visits being scheduled within 1 and 6 month visit windows post-operatively, leaving 616 patients included for analysis. Of 616 patients, 574 patients were seen for the 1-month visit, (42 patients did not have follow-up visits within the 1-month window), and 356 patients were examined for the 6-month visit (260 patients did not schedule follow-up visits within the 6-month window). For the 1-month follow-up visits post-procedure, only race/ethnicity type “Other” was associated with lower no-show rates (OR = 0.330, 95% CI: 0.093-0.968). With the 6-month follow-up visits, having private insurance (OR = 0.446, 95% CI: 0.229-0.867) and not having a 1-month visit scheduled (OR = 0.404, 95% CI: 0.174-0.937) predicted lower no-show rates. Conclusion: No meaningful factors studied were significantly associated with compliance of short-term, 1-month visits post-myringotomy. Compliance of longer-term, 6-month post-operative visits was associated with insurance type and previous visit status.

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