Developing a social prescribing local system in a European Mediterranean country: a feasibility study to promote active and healthy aging

Background Social Prescribing (SP) is an innovative strategy to respond to the non-clinical health needs of the population. A Social Prescribing Local System (SPLS) can be defined as a set of joined community, health, and social organizations to foster SP-oriented activities. This study aimed to develop and assess the feasibility of an SPLS implemented in a Mediterranean country, to promote health and wellbeing and contribute to active and healthy aging. Methods A mixed-methods approach was followed, including three sequential components: 1) Cross-sectional online survey targeting health professionals (HP) working in a primary health care cluster, Portugal’s southern region; 2) Pilot study implementing an on-the-job training program for HP, designed to meet identified training needs in the survey; 3) Focus group (FG) with the HP who participated in the pilot study, two individual interviews, with an elderly patient and a community provider for assessing the satisfaction with the pilot test. Results Sixty-five HP completed the survey; of these, 13 completed the theoretical part of the on-the-job training program; and six (out of these 13) completed the full program. Five HP participated in the FG, one patient and one community provider were interviewed. The surveyed HP perceived as facilitators to implement SP: an automatic system of notifications to prompt the use of SP, contribute to patient satisfaction, human and community resources’ stability. The survey also highlighted barriers to SP implementation: length of appointments, shortage of human resources, data records confidentiality, low patient adherence rates, bureaucratic issues, time constraints, and financial costs. Participants were satisfied with the training. Identified SPLS implementation benefits were grouped into four dimensions (from the qualitative approach): gains for patients’ health and wellbeing, support for the health services, sustainability of the community resources, and HP’ professional satisfaction. Conclusions Our study took the first steps towards the implementation of an SPLS. Findings reinforce that training HP in SP and on-the-job training seems feasible. This approach was well received and appears to represent a suitable and sustainable strategy. It can promote professional satisfaction, support health services, contribute to the stability of community resources, improve health and promote active and healthy aging.

Recovery support specialists inside the jail: a program description of treatment engagement for opioid use disorder

Purpose People living with opioid use disorder (OUD) disproportionately encounter the criminal justice system. Although incarcerated individuals with OUD face higher risk for withdrawals, relapses and overdoses, most jails fail to offer comprehensive medications for OUD (MOUD), including recovery support services and transition of care to a community provider. The purpose of this paper is to describe the development and implementation of a comprehensive MOUD program at a large county jail system in Maricopa County, Arizona. Design/methodology/approach The authors used the Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) to develop a community-based, multi-organizational program for incarcerated individuals with OUD. The SIM is a mapping process of the criminal justice system and was applied in Maricopa County, Arizona to identify gaps in services and strengthen resources at each key intercept. The program applies an integrated care framework that is person-centered and incorporates medical, behavioral and social services to improve population health. Findings Stakeholders worked collaboratively to develop a multi-point program for incarcerated individuals with OUD that includes an integrated care service with brief screening, MOUD and treatment; a residential treatment program; peer support; community provider referrals; and a court diversion program. Recovery support specialists provide education, support and care coordination between correctional and community health services. Originality/value OUD is a common problem in many correctional health centers. However, many jails do not provide a comprehensive approach to connect incarcerated individuals with OUD treatment. The Maricopa County, Arizona jail system opioid treatment program is unique because of the ongoing support from recovery support specialists during and after incarceration.

131 Developing An Integrated Comprehensive Geriatric Unit

Introduction Surrey Downs Health and Care (SDHC) is an innovative partnership consisting of the acute trust, community provider, three local GP federations and local authority. Together they deliver integrated health and care services for the Surrey Downs population. In April 2019, SDHC formally took over the management of an acute escalation ward at Epsom General Hospital. The aim was to redesign the model of care to offer a more integrated approach towards the management of patients with frailty. Method A change in leadership with interface frailty consultants developing an integrated multidisciplinary team (MDT) with reassignment of community staff. All members of the MDT had an equal voice and this helped develop the one team ethos. There were many developments along the way, but key changes included the agreement that a patients’ time is the most valuable currency and that we should be changing conversations from “what is the matter with you?” to “what matters most to you?” Results 1. A 100% increase in average daily discharges 2. An increase to 70% being discharged to their own home, versus 20% previously 3. A reduction from an average length of stay of 40 days to 13 days compared to the same time last year 4. Reduced 30-day readmissions at 15% versus previous average of 25%. Conclusion By blurring boundaries between the acute and community, allowed a frictionless pathway for patients. This has led to improvement in patient care and outcomes for the patient and system as a whole.

Integrating care between an NHS hospital, a community provider and the role of commissioning: the experience of developing an integrated respiratory service

ObjectivesAn integrated respiratory service was commissioned in 2016 in a UK region to support patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The service brought together the respiratory department of a National Health Service hospital and a not-for-profit community provider. This paper evaluates: (1) the perceived efficacy of integrated working between the organisations from the perspective of staff and (2) the relationship between commissioning and integration of the services.DesignSemistructured interviews with staff from the three organisations involved in the integrated respiratory service. Staff were purposefully sampled. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically.SettingSecondary care respiratory unit; community provider of respiratory care; and a clinical commissioning group.ParticipantsNineteen interview participants: nine from the community provider; eight from the hospital and two from the clinical commissioning group.ResultsStaff identified lack of integration between the organisations characterised by: poor communication, lack of trust, absence of shared information technology and ineffective integrative initiatives. The commissioning process created barriers to integration including: contractual limitations which prevented pathway development, absence of agreed clinical governance arrangements and lack of recognition of community work undertaken by hospital staff. Positive working relationships were established over time as staff recognised the skills that each had to offer.ConclusionsThe commissioning process underpinned the relationship between the organisations and contributed to distrust and negative perceptions of the ‘other’. Commissioning an integrated service should incorporate dialogue with stakeholders as early as possible and before the contract is finalised to develop a bedrock of trust.

3201 Patient Perceptions of Healthcare Provider Interactions among Higher-Weight Women with Eating Disorders: Opportunities for Earlier Screening, Improved Referral, and Increased Clinician Rapport

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Objective: Identify barriers and facilitators of positive patient-provider interactions for AAN patients. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Methods: Using a mixed-methods, longitudinal, patient-interview design, N = 29 (to date) women with a history of AAN have been enrolled. Each patient completed a diagnostic interview and standardized surveys to establish ED diagnosis, severity, and associated psychopathology. Transcribed, semi-structured qualitative interviews are assessed for common themes using content analysis methods. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Anticipated Results: Patients aged 18 to 74 (M = 36.3, SD = 12.0), with mean BMI = 39.8 (22.7-61.1; SD = 11.3), and mean weight suppression (lbs) during their illness = 119.41 (SD = 69.3). Women reported a mean=12.75 years (0-37 years, SD = 10.5) treatment delay. Qualitative analysis revealed the following barriers in healthcare provider interactions: 1) experiences of provider weight-bias, 2) low specificity in ED screening questions, 3) lack of indicated screening procedures/diagnostic tests (orthostatic screening, EKG, food log, labs), and 4) provider praise of ED behaviors. Facilitators: 1) lower BMI at presentation, 2) provider education in EDs, 3) community-provider collaboration, and 4) patient self- and family- advocacy. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Discussion: Unfortunately, while early intervention best predicts positive outcomes, higher-weight patients in this study experienced significant treatment delay. Translationally, it is taking too long for AAN patients to receive the right treatment at the right time. However, findings indicate that interventions at the provider level (increasing ED education, building community partnerships, increased adherence to screening protocols) could improve screening, diagnostic, and referral practices—and ultimately long-term outcomes for this unique patient population.

Using visualisation methods to analyse referral networks within community health care among patients aged 65 years and over

Community health care services are considered integral to overcoming future problems in health care. However, this sector faces its own challenges, such as how to organise services to provide coordinated care given: their physical distribution, patients using multiple services, increased patient use and differing patient needs. The aim of this work was to explore, analyse and understand patterns in community referrals for patients aged 65 years and over, and their use of multiple services through data visualisation. Working with a large community provider, these methods helped researchers and service managers to investigate questions that were otherwise difficult to answer from raw data. Each map focuses on a different characteristic of community referrals: patients reusing services, concurrent uses of different services and patterns of subsequent referrals. We apply these methods to routine patient data and discuss their implications in designing of a single point of access – a service for streamlining referrals.