Evaluating the impact of a training program to support transitioning from the hospital to the community for people after stroke: a community case study

Background The transitions in care along the stroke recovery path are challenging, particularly in finding mechanisms to continue one’s recovery once at home. We aim to evaluate the impact of training physiotherapists and fitness instructors from one regional community together to deliver an evidence-based group exercise program starting in the hospital and transitioning to the community using an implementation approach. Methods The evidenced based exercise program Fitness and Mobility Exercise (FAME) for stroke was chosen as the intervention. Data from interviews with stakeholders (community centre and health authority hospital staff including a physiotherapy navigator) was transcribed and themes evaluated using the RE-AIM (Reach, Efficacy, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance) framework. These data were supplemented by information collected as a quality assurance project within the health authority. Results Two programs were established; one in the community centre (run over 15 months by fitness instructors) and one in the regional hospital (run over 12 months by a rehabilitation assistant under the direction from a physiotherapist). Transitions in care were facilitated by implementing the same evidence-based group exercise class in both the hospital and community setting, so people living with stroke could seamlessly move from one to another. An existing physiotherapist navigator service also was valued as a support for the transitions between the two centres for people with stroke. The hospital group accessed group-based physiotherapy service on average 31 days earlier than they were able to in a one-to-one format. Conclusions This case study described the implementation of the Fitness and Mobility Exercise (FAME) program in one community and the use of a physiotherapist navigator to assist transition between them. After a community training workshop, FAME programs were established within the health authority and the community centre. FAME program participants within the health authority benefited from reduced wait times to access hospital outpatient physiotherapy service. Improvements in function were measured in and reported by the people after stroke attending either the health authority or community centre FAME groups.

Co-development of a transitions in care bundle for patient transitions from the intensive care unit: a mixed-methods analysis of a stakeholder consensus meeting

Background Intensive care unit (ICU) patients undergoing transitions in care are at increased risk of adverse events and gaps in medical care. We evaluated existing patient- and family-centered transitions in care tools and identified facilitators, barriers, and implementation considerations for the application of a transitions in care bundle in critically ill adults (i.e., a collection of evidence-based patient- and family-centred tools to improve outcomes during and after transitions from the intensive care unit [ICU] to hospital ward or community). Methods We conducted a concurrent mixed methods (quan + QUAL) study, including stakeholders with experience in ICU transitions in care (i.e., patient/family partners, researchers, decision-makers, providers, and other knowledge-users). First, participants scored existing transitions in care tools using the modified Appraisal of Guidelines, Research and Evaluation (AGREE-II) framework. Transitions in care tools were discussed by stakeholders and either accepted, accepted with modifications, or rejected if consensus was achieved (≥70% agreement). We summarized quantitative results using frequencies and medians. Second, we conducted a qualitative analysis of participant discussions using grounded theory principles to elicit factors influencing AGREE-II scores, and to identify barriers, facilitators, and implementation considerations for the application of a transitions in care bundle. Results Twenty-nine stakeholders attended. Of 18 transitions in care tools evaluated, seven (39%) tools were accepted with modifications, one (6%) tool was rejected, and consensus was not reached for ten (55%) tools. Qualitative analysis found that participants’ AGREE-II rankings were influenced by: 1) language (e.g., inclusive, balance of jargon and lay language); 2) if the tool was comprehensive (i.e., could stand alone); 3) if the tool could be individualized for each patient; 4) impact to clinical workflow; and 5) how the tool was presented (e.g., brochure, video). Participants discussed implementation considerations for a patient- and family-centered transitions in care bundle: 1) delivery (e.g., tool format and timing); 2) continuity (e.g., follow-up after ICU discharge); and 3) continuous evaluation and improvement (e.g., frequency of tool use). Participants discussed existing facilitators (e.g., collaboration and co-design) and barriers (e.g., health system capacity) that would impact application of a transitions in care bundle. Conclusions Findings will inform future research to develop a transitions in care bundle for transitions from the ICU, co-designed with patients, families, providers, researchers, decision-makers, and knowledge-users.

Quality Indicators for Older Persons’ Transitions in Care: A Systematic Review and Delphi Process

We identified quality indicators (QIs) for care during transitions of older persons (≥ 65 years of age). Through systematic literature review, we catalogued QIs related to older persons’ transitions in care among continuing care settings and between continuing care and acute care settings and back. Through two Delphi survey rounds, experts ranked relevance, feasibility, and scientific soundness of QIs. A steering committee reviewed QIs for their feasible capture in Canadian administrative databases. Our search yielded 326 QIs from 53 sources. A final set of 38 feasible indicators to measure in current practice was included. The highest proportions of indicators were for the emergency department (47%) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) quality domain of effectiveness (39.5%). Most feasible indicators were outcome indicators. Our work highlights a lack of standardized transition QI development in practice, and the limitations of current free-text documentation systems in capturing relevant and consistent data.

Effectiveness of an Electronic Communication Tool on Transitions in Care From the Intensive Care Unit: Protocol for a Cluster-Specific Pre-Post Trial

Background Transitions in care are vulnerable periods in health care that can expose patients to preventable errors due to incomplete or delayed communication between health care providers. Transitioning critically ill patients from intensive care units (ICUs) to other patient care units (PCUs) is particularly risky, due to the high acuity of the patients and the diversity of health care providers involved in their care. Instituting structured documentation to standardize written communication between health care providers during transitions has been identified as a promising means to reduce communication breakdowns. We developed an evidence-informed, computer-enabled, ICU-specific structured tool—an electronic transfer (e-transfer) tool—to facilitate and standardize the composition of written transfer summaries in the ICUs of one Canadian city. The tool consisted of 10 primary sections with a user interface combination of structured, automated, and free-text fields. Objective Our overarching goal is to evaluate whether implementation of our e-transfer tool will improve the completeness and timeliness of transfer summaries and streamline communications between health care providers during high-risk transitions. Methods This study is a cluster-specific pre-post trial, with randomized and staggered implementation of the e-transfer tool in four hospitals in Calgary, Alberta. Hospitals (ie, clusters) were allocated randomly to cross over every 2 months from control (ie, dictation only) to intervention (ie, e-transfer tool). Implementation at each site was facilitated with user education, point-of-care support, and audit and feedback. We will compare transfer summaries randomly sampled over 6 months postimplementation to summaries randomly sampled over 6 months preimplementation. The primary outcome will be a binary composite measure of the timeliness and completeness of transfer summaries. Secondary measures will include overall completeness, timeliness, and provider ratings of transfer summaries; hospital and ICU lengths of stay; and post-ICU patient outcomes, including ICU readmission, adverse events, cardiac arrest, rapid response team activation, and mortality. We will use descriptive statistics (ie, medians and means) to describe demographic characteristics. The primary outcome will be compared within each hospital pre- and postimplementation using separate logistic regression models for each hospital, with adjustment for patient characteristics. Results Participating hospitals were cluster randomized to the intervention between July 2018 and January 2019. Preliminary extraction of ICU patient admission lists was completed in September 2019. We anticipate that evaluation data collection will be completed by early 2021, with first results ready for publication in spring or summer 2021. Conclusions This study will report the impact of implementing an evidence-informed, computer-enabled, ICU-specific structured transfer tool on communication and preventable medical errors among patients transferred from the ICU to other hospital care units. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03590002; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03590002 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/18675

Post-Acute Care for Medicare Beneficiaries in Accountable Care Organizations

Post-acute care (PAC) is a component of health-care utilization and spending that is subject to the discretion of providers. Prior research has demonstrated that Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) recognize PAC as a logical target for increased efficiency and cost savings. As part of the evaluation of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Next Generation ACO (NGACO) Model, we investigated NGACOs’ approaches to PAC services and the impact of these efforts on utilization and cost using a mixed-methods study design. We conducted interviews and surveys with NGACO leadership and providers and performed a difference-in-differences analysis of utilization and spending based on Medicare claims data. We found that NGACOs focused specifically on establishing partnerships with skilled nursing facilities (SNF) to facilitate transitions in care by establishing new channels of communication, sharing performance data, embedding staff in SNFs, and (in some cases) sharing financial risk. We observed a statistically significant decrease in SNF spending, a trend toward fewer SNF days, and statistically significantly lower expenditures for other PAC settings (e.g., inpatient rehabilitation and long-term acute care facilities). These findings suggest that NGACOs have contributed to improving transitions in care and diverting beneficiaries from intensive PAC settings. Nonetheless, the reduction in PAC spending alone did not translate to a decline in total cost of care. Future ACOs may need to expand their focus to the inpatient utilization and spending that precedes PAC in order to impact total cost of care.

Changes in Care- A Systematic Scoping Review of Transitions for Children with Medical Complexities

Background: Children with medical complexity (CMC) and their parents are affected physically and mentally during transitions in care. Coordinated models of care show promise in improving health outcomes. Objective: The purpose of this scoping review was to examine research related to CMC and their parents and transitions in care. The aim was 3-fold: (1) to examine the extent, range, and nature of research activity related to the impact of transitions on physical and mental health for CMC and their parents; (2) to summarize and disseminate research findings for key knowledge users; and (3) to identify research gaps in the existing literature to inform future studies. Methods: Twenty-three sources were identified through database searches and five articles met the inclusion criteria of CMC (multi-organ involvement or technology-dependent) (or parents of CMC) transitioning from hospital to alternate levels of care where outcome measures were physical or mental health-related. Results: Numerical analysis revealed substantial variation in methodological approaches and outcome measures. Content analysis revealed two themes for parents of CMC during this transition: (1) emotional distress, and (2) high expectations; and three themes for CMC: (1) improved health, (2) changes in emotion, and (3) disrupted relationships. Conclusion: The findings from this scoping review reveal for parents, transitions in care are fraught with emotional distress and high expectations; and for CMC there are improvements in quality of life and emotional health post- hospital to home transitions when collaborative models of care are available. This review serves as an early attempt to summarize the literature and demonstrate a need for further research.