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Fournaise A, Andersen-Ranberg K, Lauridsen JT, Espersen K, Gudex C, Bech M. Conceptual framework for acute community health care services - Illustrated by assessing the development of services in Denmark. Soc Sci Med 2023; 324:115857. [PMID: 37001279 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Acute community health care services can support continuity of care by acting as a bridge between the primary and secondary health care sectors in the early detection of acute disease and provision of treatment and care. Although acute community health care services are a political priority in many countries, the literature on their organization and effect is limited. We present a conceptual framework for describing acute community health care services that can be used to support the policies and guidelines for such services. For illustrative purposes, we apply the framework to the Danish acute community health care services using implementation data from 2020 and identify gaps and opportunities for learning. The framework identifies two key pairs of dimensions: (1) capacity & capability, and (2) coordination & collaboration. These dimensions, together with the governance structure and quality assurance initiatives, are of key importance to the effect of acute community health care services. While all Danish municipalities have implemented acute community health care services, application of the framework indicates considerable variation in their approaches. The conceptual framework provides a systematic approach supporting the development, implementation, evaluation, and monitoring of acute community health care services and can assist policymakers at both national and local levels in this work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders Fournaise
- Department of Cross-sectoral Collaboration, Region of Southern Denmark, Damhaven 12, 7100, Vejle, Denmark; Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, 5000, Odense, Denmark; Geriatric Research Unit, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Odense University Hospital, J. B. Winsløws Vej 4, 5000, Odense, Denmark.
| | - Karen Andersen-Ranberg
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, 5000, Odense, Denmark; Geriatric Research Unit, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Odense University Hospital, J. B. Winsløws Vej 4, 5000, Odense, Denmark; Danish Aging Research Center, University of Southern Denmark, J. B. Winsløws Vej 9b, 5000, Odense, Denmark; Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 19, 5000, Odense, Denmark.
| | - Jørgen T Lauridsen
- Department of Economics, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5000, Odense, Denmark.
| | - Kurt Espersen
- Department of Cross-sectoral Collaboration, Region of Southern Denmark, Damhaven 12, 7100, Vejle, Denmark.
| | - Claire Gudex
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 19, 5000, Odense, Denmark; Open Patient data Explorative Network (OPEN), Region of Southern Denmark, J. B. Winsløws Vej 9A, 5000, Odense, Denmark.
| | - Mickael Bech
- Department of Political Science and Public Management, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense, Denmark.
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Hilland GH, Hagen TP, Martinussen PE. Stayin' alive: The introduction of municipal in-patient acute care units was associated with reduced mortality and fewer hospital readmissions. Soc Sci Med 2023; 326:115912. [PMID: 37104970 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Integrated care is seen as integral in combating the current and projected resource scarcity in the healthcare systems of developed economies. Previous research finds positive effects from implementing intermediate care but there is a lack of research on how this shift towards care integration has affected traditional quality indicators within healthcare, indicators such as mortality rates and hospital readmissions. We seek to contribute to the discourse by studying how the introduction of intermediate care in the form of municipal acute units (MAUs) in Norway has affected age adjusted mortality rates and hospital readmissions. DATA AND METHODS In this retrospective cohort study we utilize yearly population-based registry data from 2010 to 2016, analysed with fixed-effects regressions. Data on the implementation, characteristics and localization of the MAUs were gathered by telephone during the implementation period. Data on mortality rates and hospital readmissions were collected from Statistics Norway and the Norwegian patient registry. RESULTS Our analyses finds that the introduction of MAU was associated with a statistically significant reduction in both aggregated mortality rates and hospital readmission rates. In depth analyses finds that our results are contingent upon the age of the patients treated at the MAUs and the clinical characteristics of the medical units themselves. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that the shift towards intermediate care through the introduction of MAUs has increased performance within the public healthcare sector in Norway. Our findings indicate that the introduction of MAU have had a positive public health impact by lowering the mortality and readmission rates for the oldest population cohort in Norway. Our findings suggests that countries with comparatively similar healthcare systems as Norway could achieve similar benefits from implementing intermediate care in the form of somatic medical institutions in the local communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geir Haakon Hilland
- SINTEF Digital, Department of Health, Health Services Research Group, Strindvegen 4, 7034 Trondheim, Norway.
| | - Terje P Hagen
- University of Oslo, Department of Health Management and Health Economics, Problemveien 7, 0315 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Pål E Martinussen
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Department of Sociology and Political Science, Edvard Bulls Veg 1, 7491 Trondheim, Norway.
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Intersectoral Ward Rounds on Patients Admitted to Temporary Twenty-Four-Hour Accommodations in Denmark: Case Study. Int J Integr Care 2022; 22:12. [PMID: 35221828 PMCID: PMC8833261 DOI: 10.5334/ijic.5688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Temporary twenty-four-hour accommodations (TTAs) are municipal beds for elderly patients discharged from the hospital with acute treatment, care and/or rehabilitation needs that cannot be met in their own homes. TTAs are staffed by nurses and nursing assistants who are not authorized to prescribe or modify medications. At North Zealand Hospital one third of the many readmissions from a TTA within eight days after discharge have been assessed as preventable. Description: A hospital-based team rounded on 268 patients at TTAs from May 2017 to October 2019 to promote integrated care. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of the rounding by auditing patient cases. A physician, a nurse, and a pharmacist from the hospital; a general practitioner; and one or two TTA nurses audited 17 cases. Discussion: Obtaining access to all electronic patient records and reconstructing information shared across sectors were not feasible in all cases. Conclusion
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Udesen SEJ, Lassen AT, Andersen N, Østervang C, Nielsen DS. Healthcare professionals' experiences with highly qualified nurses working in acute care teams in primary healthcare settings. Scand J Prim Health Care 2021; 39:194-203. [PMID: 33913802 PMCID: PMC8293963 DOI: 10.1080/02813432.2021.1913903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Strengthening primary healthcare with highly qualified nurses in acute care units or teams is a new Danish initiative intended to detect acute diseases and the deterioration of chronic diseases and to develop treatment for outpatients. This study explores healthcare professionals' experiences with this initiative. DESIGN Qualitative semi-structured interviews conducted in 2019-2020. Analysis was conducted with a systematic text condensation. SETTING This study is based on an acute care team in one Danish municipality called Acute Team Odense (ATO). ATO delivers acute nursing in patients' own homes (including nursing homes) in collaboration with different healthcare professionals. SUBJECTS Individual interviews with general practitioners (GPs) (n = 15), five focus-group interviews with nurses and nursing assistants from the municipality (n = 19) and one focus-group interview with staff from the emergency department (ED) (n = 10). MAIN OUTCOMES Experiences of different healthcare professionals' experiences with ATO. RESULTS In general, all of the participants were very satisfied with the new acute care team and the cross-sectorial possibilities. The GPs usually referred ATO to assessments in which paraclinical equipment, competencies, accessibility, response time and communication were important. The municipal nurses and nursing assistants tended to use ATO if they needed second opinions or acute nurse assistance. The ED most often used ATO to assist with intravenous therapy after an ED visit. All participants reported that ATO increased what could be assessed and treated in patients' homes, which is central to preventing unnecessary hospitalisations. CONCLUSIONS ATO created new possibilities in patient's homes which potentially might prevent unnecessary hospitalisations.KEY POINTSAcute care units or teams are mandatory in Danish health care, but limited knowledge in the area is found.Healthcare professionals found that the acute care teams provided new possibilities to assess and treat patients in their own homes.Healthcare professionals experienced that the acute care team potentially prevented hospitalisations by fast clinical nurse assessments with paraclinical tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stine Emilie Junker Udesen
- The Department of Elderly and Disabled, Odense Municipality, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Clinical Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Annmarie Touborg Lassen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Clinical Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Nina Andersen
- The Department of Elderly and Disabled, Odense Municipality, Odense, Denmark
| | - Christina Østervang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Clinical Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Dorthe Suanne Nielsen
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Migrant Health Clinic, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
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