Does integrated care reduce hospital activity for patients with chronic diseases? An umbrella review of systematic reviews

Interventions to minimise hospital winter pressures related to discharge planning and integrated care: a rapid mapping review of UK evidence

Background

Winter pressures are a familiar phenomenon within the National Health Service and represent the most extreme of many regular demands placed on health and social care service provision. This review focuses on a part of the pathway that is particularly problematic: the discharge process from hospital to social care and the community. Although studies of discharge are plentiful, we identified a need to focus on identifying interventions and initiatives that are a specific response to 'winter pressures'. This mapping review focuses on interventions or initiatives in relation to hospital winter pressures in the United Kingdom with either discharge planning to increase smart discharge (both a reduction in patients waiting to be discharged and patients being discharged to the most appropriate place) and/or integrated care.

Methods

We conducted a mapping review of United Kingdom evidence published 2018-22. Initially, we searched MEDLINE, Health Management Information Consortium, Social Care Online, Social Sciences Citation Index and the King's Fund Library to find relevant interventions in conjunction with winter pressures. From these interventions we created a taxonomy of intervention types and a draft map. A second broader stage of searching was then undertaken for named candidate interventions on Google Scholar (Google Inc., Mountain View, CA, USA). For each taxonomy heading, we produced a table with definitions, findings from research studies, local initiatives and systematic reviews and evidence gaps.

Results

The taxonomy developed was split into structural, changing staff behaviour, changing community provision, integrated care, targeting carers, modelling and workforce planning. The last two categories were excluded from the scope. Within the different taxonomy sections we generated a total of 41 headings. These headings were further organised into the different stages of the patient pathway: hospital avoidance, alternative delivery site, facilitated discharge and cross-cutting. The evidence for each heading was summarised in tables and evidence gaps were identified.

Conclusions

Few initiatives identified were specifically identified as a response to winter pressures. Discharge to assess and hospital at home interventions are heavily used and well supported by the evidence but other responses, while also heavily used, were based on limited evidence. There is a lack of studies considering patient, family and provider needs when developing interventions aimed at improving delayed discharge. Additionally, there is a shortage of studies that measure the longer-term impact of interventions. Hospital avoidance and discharge planning are whole-system approaches. Considering the whole health and social care system is imperative to ensure that implementing an initiative in one setting does not just move the problem to another setting.

Limitations

Time limitations for completing the review constrained the period available for additional searches. This may carry implications for the completeness of the evidence base identified.

Future work

Further research to consider a realist review that views approaches across the different sectors within a whole system evaluation frame.

Funding

This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health and Social Care Delivery Research programme (NIHR award ref: NIHR130588) and is published in full in Health and Social Care Delivery Research; Vol. 12, No. 31. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information.

Influence of Comprehensive Nursing Care on Heart Failure Patient Management: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Heart failure is a common chronic illness associated with high readmission rates and death. Comprehensive nursing care, management of symptoms, and psychological support are increasingly seen as critical components of successful heart failure therapy.

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the effect of comprehensive nursing care on clinical outcomes and quality of life in heart failure patients.

METHODS

We searched electronic databases (PubMed, PROSPERO, and Web of Science) for randomised controlled trials and observational studies on comprehensive nursing care treatments for heart failure patients. Data on readmission rates, mortality rates, and quality of life were obtained and examined.

RESULTS

A total of 693 studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. A meta-analysis found that comprehensive nursing care reduced heart failure-related readmissions considerably when compared to conventional therapy (odds ratio [OR]: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.66-0.88, p = 0.0002). There was a significant difference in all-cause mortality (OR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.60-0.97, p = 0.03), but comprehensive treatment enhanced quality of life and functional status (standardised mean difference -0.05, 95% CI: -0.21 to 0.10, p = 0.49).

CONCLUSION

Comprehensive nursing care improves clinical outcomes and quality of life for heart failure patients. This study stresses the need to add comprehensive nurse interventions in normal heart failure treatment programmes.

Improving outcomes of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in primary care with Chronic Care Model: A narrative review

Designed and implemented over two decades ago, the Chronic Care Model is a well-established chronic disease management framework that has steered several healthcare systems in successfully improving the clinical outcomes of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Research evidence cements the role of the Chronic Care Model (with its six key elements of organization of healthcare delivery system, self-management support, decision support, delivery system design, clinical information systems, and community resources and policies) as an integrated framework to revamp the type 2 diabetes mellitus-related clinical practice and care that betters the patient care and clinical outcomes. The current review is an evidence-lit summary of importance of use of Chronic Care Model in primary care and their impact on clinical outcomes for patients afflicted with one of the most debilitating metabolic diseases, type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Spatio-temporal modelling of referrals to outpatient respiratory clinics in the integrated care system of the Morecambe Bay area, England

BACKGROUND

Promoting integrated care is a key goal of the NHS Long Term Plan to improve population respiratory health, yet there is limited data-driven evidence of its effectiveness. The Morecambe Bay Respiratory Network is an integrated care initiative operating in the North-West of England since 2017. A key target area has been reducing referrals to outpatient respiratory clinics by upskilling primary care teams. This study aims to explore space-time patterns in referrals from general practice in the Morecambe Bay area to evaluate the impact of the initiative.

METHODS

Data on referrals to outpatient clinics and chronic respiratory disease patient counts between 2012-2020 were obtained from the Morecambe Bay Community Data Warehouse, a large store of routinely collected healthcare data. For analysis, the data is aggregated by year and small area geography. The methodology comprises of two parts. The first explores the issues that can arise when using routinely collected primary care data for space-time analysis and applies spatio-temporal conditional autoregressive modelling to adjust for data complexities. The second part models the rate of outpatient referral via a Poisson generalised linear mixed model that adjusts for changes in demographic factors and number of respiratory disease patients.

RESULTS

The first year of the Morecambe Bay Respiratory Network was not associated with a significant difference in referral rate. However, the second and third years saw significant reductions in areas that had received intervention, with full intervention associated with a 31.8% (95% CI 17.0-43.9) and 40.5% (95% CI 27.5-50.9) decrease in referral rate in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Routinely collected data can be used to robustly evaluate key outcome measures of integrated care. The results demonstrate that effective integrated care has real potential to ease the burden on respiratory outpatient services by reducing the need for an onward referral. This is of great relevance given the current pressure on outpatient services globally, particularly long waiting lists following the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for more innovative models of care.

Person-centred integrated care for people living with Parkinson's, Huntington's and Multiple Sclerosis: A systematic review

INTRODUCTION

People living with long-term neurological conditions (LTNCs) have complex needs that demand intensive care coordination between sectors. This review aimed to establish if integrated care improves outcomes for people, and what characterises successful interventions.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was undertaken evaluating multisectoral integrated care interventions in people living with Parkinson's disease (PD), Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Huntington's disease (HD). Strength of evidence was rated for the different outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 15 articles were included, reporting on 2095 patients and caregivers, finding that integrated care can improve people's access to resources and reduce patients' depression. UK studies indicated improvements in patients' quality of life, although the international literature was inconclusive. Few programmes considered caregivers' outcomes, reporting no difference or even worsening in depression, burden and quality of life. Overall, the evidence showed a mismatch between people's needs and outcomes measured, with significant outcomes (e.g., self-management, continuity of care, care experience) lacking. Successful programmes were characterised by expert knowledge, multisectoral care coordination, care continuity and a person-centred approach.

CONCLUSIONS

The impact of integrated care programmes on people living with LTNCs is limited and inconclusive. For a more person-centred approach, future studies need to assess integrated care from a service-user perspective.

PATIENT AND PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

Thirty people living with LTNCs were involved in this review, through defining research questions, validating the importance of the project, and increasing the researchers' understanding on what matters to service users. A patient and public involvement subgroup of representatives with lived experience on PD, MS and HD identified the need for more person-centred integrated care, with specific concerns over care fragmentation, care duplication and care continuity. This was key to data analysis and formulating the characteristics of successful and unsuccessful integrated care programmes from the perspective of service users. The discrepancy between service users' needs and the outcomes assessed in the literature point to user-driven research as the solution to address what matters to patients and caregivers.

From hospital-centered care to home-centered care of older people: propositions for research and development

PURPOSE

Providing high-quality and cost-efficient care of older people is an important development priority for many health and social care systems in the world. This paper suggests a shift from acute, episodic and reactive hospital-centered care toward longitudinal, person-centered and proactive home-centered care. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the knowledge of a comprehensive development strategy for designing and providing home-centered care of older people.

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH

The study design is based on qualitative research with an inductive approach. The authors study development initiatives at the national, regional and local levels of the Swedish health and social care system. The data collection methods included interviews (n = 54), meeting observations (n = 25) and document studies (n = 59).

FINDINGS

The authors describe findings related to policy actions and system changes, attempts to achieve collaboration, integration and coordination, new forms of care offerings, characteristics of work settings at home and differences in patients' roles and participation at home and in the hospital.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

The authors suggest home-centered care as a solution for providing person-centered and integrated care of older people and give examples of how this can be achieved.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE

The authors outline five propositions for research and development related to national policies, service modularity as a solution for customized and coordinated care, developing human resources and infrastructure for home settings, expanding services that enable older people living at home and patient co-creation.

Effectiveness of holistic assessment-based interventions for adults with multiple long-term conditions and frailty: an umbrella review of systematic reviews

Holistic assessment-based interventions (HABIs) are effective in older people admitted to hospital, but it is unclear whether similar interventions are effective in adults with multiple long-term conditions or frailty in the community. We conducted an umbrella review to comprehensively evaluate the literature on HABIs for adults (aged ≥18 years) with multiple long-term conditions, and frailty. We searched eight databases for systematic reviews reporting on experimental or quasi-experimental studies. Of 9803 titles screened, we identified 29 eligible reviews (14 with meta-analysis) reporting on 14 types of HABIs. The evidence for the effectiveness of HABIs was largely inconsistent across different types of interventions, settings, and outcomes. We found evidence of no benefit from hospital HABIs on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and emergency department re-attendance, and evidence of no benefit from community HABIs on overall health-care utilisation rates, emergency department attendance, nursing home admissions, and mortality. The best evidence of effectiveness was for hospital comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) on nursing home admissions, keeping patients alive and in their own homes. There was some evidence of benefit from community CGA on hospital admissions, and from CGA spanning community and hospital settings on HRQoL. Patient-centred medical homes had beneficial effects on HRQoL, mental health, self-management, and hospital admissions.

Does a Community Care programme reach a high health need population and high users of acute care hospital services in Melbourne, Australia? An observational cohort study

OBJECTIVE

The Community Care programme is an initiative aimed at reducing hospitalisations and emergency department (ED) presentations among patients with complex needs. We aimed to describe the characteristics of the programme participants and identify factors associated with enrolment into the programme.

DESIGN

This observational cohort study was conducted using routinely collected data from the National Centre for Healthy Ageing data platform.

SETTING

The study was carried out at Peninsula Health, a health service provider serving a population in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

PARTICIPANTS

We included all adults with unplanned ED presentation or hospital admission to Peninsula Health between 1 November 2016 and 31 October 2017, the programme's first operational year.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Community Care programme enrolment was the primary outcome. Participants' demographics, health factors and enrolment influences were analysed using a staged multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS

We included 47 148 adults, of these, 914 were enrolled in the Community Care programme. Participants were older (median 66 vs 51 years), less likely to have a partner (34% vs 57%) and had more frequent hospitalisations and ED visits. In the multivariable analysis, factors most strongly associated with enrolment included not having a partner (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.83, 95% CI 1.57 to 2.12), increasing age (aOR 1.01, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.02), frequent hospitalisations (aOR 7.32, 95% CI 5.78 to 9.24), frequent ED visits (aOR 2.0, 95% CI 1.37 to 2.85) and having chronic diseases, such as chronic pulmonary disease (aOR 2.48, 95% CI 2.06 to 2.98), obesity (aOR 2.06, 95% CI 1.39 to 2.99) and diabetes mellitus (complicated) (aOR 1.75, 95% CI 1.44 to 2.13). Residing in aged care home and having high socioeconomic status) independently associated with reduced odds of enrolment.

CONCLUSIONS

The Community Care programme targets patients with high-readmission risks under-representation of individuals residing in residential aged care homes warrants further investigation. This study aids service planning and offers valuable feedback to clinicians about programme beneficiaries.

End-of-life care costs and place of death across health and social care sectors

OBJECTIVES

This study explores the relationship between end-of-life care costs and place of death across different health and social care sectors.

METHODS

We used a linked local government and health data of East London residents (n=4661) aged 50 or over, deceased between 2016 and 2020. Individuals who died in hospital were matched to those who died elsewhere according to a wide range of demographic, socioeconomic and health factors. We reported mean healthcare costs and 95% CIs by care sectors over the 12-month period before death. Subgroup analyses were conducted to investigate if the role of place of death differs according to long-term conditions and age.

RESULTS

We found that mean difference in total cost between hospital and non-hospital decedents was £4565 (95% CI £3132 to £6046). Hospital decedents were associated with higher hospital cost (£5196, £4499 to £5905), higher mental healthcare cost (£283, £78 to £892) and lower social care cost (-£838, -£1,209 to -£472), compared with individuals who died elsewhere. Subgroup analysis shows that the association between place of death and healthcare costs differs by age and long-term conditions, including cancer, mental health and cardiovascular diseases.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that trajectories of end-of-life healthcare costs vary by place of death in a differential way across health and social care sectors. High hospital burden for cancer patients may be alleviated by strengthening healthcare provision in less cost-intensive settings, such as community and social care.

Commodification and healthcare in the third sector in England: from gift to commodity-and back?

IMPACT

This article suggests why a different approach may be required for commissioning services from third sector providers than from, say, corporate or public providers. English systems for commissioning third sector providers contain both commodified elements (for example formal procurement, provider competition, commissioner-provider separation) and collaborative, relational elements (for example long-term collaboration, reliance on inter-organizational networks). When the two elements conflicted, commissioners and third sector organizations tended to try to work around the commodified elements in order to preserve and develop the collaborative aspects, which suggests that, in practice, they find de-commodified, collaborative methods better adapted to the commissioning of third sector organizations.

ABSTRACT

When publicly-funded services are outsourced, governments still use multiple governance structures to retain some control over the services provided. Using realist methods the authors systematically compared this aspect of community health activities provided by third sector organizations in six English localities during 2020-2022. Two modes of commissioning coexisted. Commodified commissioning largely embodied Washington consensus models of formal, competitive procurement. A contrasting, collaborative mode of commissioning relied more upon relational, long-term co-operation and networking among organizations. When the two modes conflicted, commissioners often favoured the collaborative mode and sought to adjust their commissioning to make it less commodified.

Community hospitals of the future-challenges and opportunities

Background

Medical training through specialization and even subspecialization has contributed significantly to clinical excellence in treating single acute conditions. However, the needs of complex patients go beyond single diseases, and there is a need to identify a group of generalists who are able to deliver cost-effective, holistic care to patients with multiple comorbidities and multi-faceted needs. Community hospitals (CHs) are a critical part of Singapore's shift toward a community-centric care model as the population ages. Community Hospitals of the Future ("CHoF") represent a series of emerging conversations around approaches to reimagine and redesign care delivery in a CH setting in response to changing care needs.

Methods

An environmental scan in the CH landscape using semi-structured interviews was conducted with 26 senior management, management, and working-level staff from seven community hospitals in Singapore. This environmental scan aims to understand the current barriers and future opportunities for CHs; to guide how CHs would have to shift in terms of (i) care delivery and resourcing, (ii) information flow, and (iii) financing; and to conceptualize CHoF to meet the changing care needs in Singapore.

Findings

The analysis of all transcripts revealed four broad sections of themes: (i) current care delivery in CHs, (ii) current challenges of CHs, (iii) future opportunities, and (iv) challenges in reimagining CHs. An emerging theme regarding the current key performance indicators used also surfaced. Resource limitations and financing structure of CH surfaced as limitations to expanding its capability. However, room for expansion of CH roles tapping on the current expertise were acknowledged and shared.

Conclusion

With the current issues of (i) rapidly aging population, (ii) specialist-centric healthcare system, and (iii) fragmentation of care ecosystem, there is a need to further understand how CHoF can be modeled to better tackle them. Therefore, several important questions have been devised to land us in a microscopic view on how to develop CHoF in the right constructs. Demographic changes, patient segmentation, service and regulatory parameters, patient's perspective, care delivery, and financial levers (or lack of) are some of the categories that the interview questions looked into. Therefore, the data gathered would be used to guide and refine the concept of CHoF.

Patient Experiences of Communication with Healthcare Professionals on Their Healthcare Management around Chronic Respiratory Diseases

BACKGROUND

Communication is an important clinical tool for the prevention and control of diseases, to advise and inform patients and the public, providing them with essential knowledge regarding healthcare and disease management. This study explored the experience of communication between healthcare professionals (HCPs) and people with long-term lung conditions, from the patient perspective.

METHODS

This qualitative study analyzed the experience of people with chronic lung disease, recruited via Asthma & Lung UK (A&LUK) and COPD research databases. A&LUK invited people who had expressed a desire to be involved in research associated with their condition via their Expert Patient Panel and associated patients' groups. Two focus group interviews (12 participants) and one individual interview (1 participant) were conducted. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis.

RESULTS

Two main themes were identified and we named them 'involving communication' and 'communication needs to be improved. 'They included seven subthemes: community-led support increased the patients' social interaction with peers; allied-HCP-led support increased patients' satisfaction; disliking being repeatedly asked the same basic information; feeling communication was unengaging, lacking personal specifics and the use of medical terminology and jargon.

CONCLUSIONS

The study has identified what most matters in the process of communication with HCPs in people with long-term respiratory diseases of their healthcare management. The findings of the study can be used to improve the patient-healthcare professional relationship and facilitate a better communication flow in long-term healthcare management.

Multicomponent integrated care for patients with chronic heart failure: systematic review and meta-analysis

To investigate the effectiveness of multicomponent integrated care on clinical outcomes among patients with chronic heart failure. We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials, published in English language from inception to 20 April 2022, with at least 3-month implementation of multicomponent integrated care (defined as two or more quality improvement strategies from different domains, viz. the healthcare system, healthcare providers, and patients). The study outcomes were mortality (all-cause or cardiovascular) and healthcare utilization (hospital readmission or emergency department visits). We pooled the risk ratio (RR) using Mantel-Haenszel test. A total of 105 trials (n = 37 607 patients with chronic heart failure; mean age 67.9 ± 7.3 years; median duration of intervention 12 months [interquartile range 6-12 months]) were analysed. Compared with usual care, multicomponent integrated care was associated with reduced risk for all-cause mortality [RR 0.90, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.86-0.95], cardiovascular mortality (RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.60-0.88), all-cause hospital readmission (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.91-1.00), heart failure-related hospital readmission (RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.79-0.89), and all-cause emergency department visits (RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.84-0.98). Heart failure-related mortality (RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.74-1.18) and cardiovascular-related hospital readmission (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.79-1.03) were not significant. The top three quality improvement strategies for all-cause mortality were promotion of self-management (RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.79-0.93), facilitated patient-provider communication (RR 0.87, 95% CI 0.81-0.93), and e-health (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.81-0.96). Multicomponent integrated care reduced risks for mortality (all-cause and cardiovascular related), hospital readmission (all-cause and heart failure related), and all-cause emergency department visits among patients with chronic heart failure.

The role of hospitals in strengthening primary health care in the Western Pacific

Despite the imperative to strengthen primary health care (PHC) to respond to demographic and epistemological transitions, and meet commitments to achieve universal health coverage, health systems remain hospital-centric with health resources largely concentrated in urban centres. This paper examines islands of innovation that demonstrate the role hospitals can play in influencing the provision of PHC. Drawing on the literature and country case studies from the Western Pacific region, we illustrate mechanisms used to unlock hospital resources to improve PHC, with the transition towards "systems-focused hospitals". This paper identifies four "ideal types" of roles hospitals perform to strengthen PHC in different contexts. This provides a framework to inform health systems policy by examining existing and potential roles of hospitals to support the provision of frontline services and reorient health systems towards PHC.

Integrated Care as a Model for Interprofessional Disease Management and the Benefits for People Living with HIV/AIDS

INTRODUCTION

Today, antiretroviral therapy (ART) is effectively used as a lifelong therapy to treat people living with HIV (PLWH) to suppress viral replication. Moreover, PLWH need an adequate care strategy in an interprofessional, networked setting of health care professionals from different disciplines. HIV/AIDS poses challenges to both patients and health care professionals within the framework of care due to frequent visits to physicians, avoidable hospitalizations, comorbidities, complications, and the resulting polypharmacy. The concepts of integrated care (IC) represent sustainable approaches to solving the complex care situation of PLWH.

AIMS

This study aimed to describe the national and international models of integrated care and their benefits regarding PLWH as complex, chronically ill patients in the health care system.

METHODS

We conducted a narrative review of the current national and international innovative models and approaches to integrated care for people with HIV/AIDS. The literature search covered the period between March and November 2022 and was conducted in the databases Cinahl, Cochrane, and Pubmed. Quantitative and qualitative studies, meta-analyses, and reviews were included.

RESULTS

The main findings are the benefits of integrated care (IC) as an interconnected, guideline- and pathway-based multiprofessional, multidisciplinary, patient-centered treatment for PLWH with complex chronic HIV/AIDS. This includes the evidence-based continuity of care with decreased hospitalization, reductions in costly and burdensome duplicate testing, and the saving of overall health care costs. Furthermore, it includes motivation for adherence, the prevention of HIV transmission through unrestricted access to ART, the reduction and timely treatment of comorbidities, the reduction of multimorbidity and polypharmacy, palliative care, and the treatment of chronic pain. IC is initiated, implemented, and financed by health policy in the form of integrated health care, managed care, case and care management, primary care, and general practitioner-centered concepts for the care of PLWH. Integrated care was originally founded in the United States of America. The complexity of HIV/AIDS intensifies as the disease progresses.

CONCLUSIONS

Integrated care focuses on the holistic view of PLWH, considering medical, nursing, psychosocial, and psychiatric needs, as well as the various interactions among them. A comprehensive expansion of integrated care in primary health care settings will not only relieve the burden on hospitals but also significantly improve the patient situation and the outcome of treatment.

Reducing hospital admissions and transfers to long-term inpatient care: A systematic literature review

Individuals in need of long-term care and their relatives prefer to receive and give care in their domestic environment for as long as possible. Residential long-term care is to be avoided for as long as possible. To achieve this goal, the care setting must be optimally oriented to the needs of the person in need of care. Moreover, relatives who provide care must be professionally supported. The Regional Care Competence Center (ReKo), launched on October 1, 2019, is a quasi-experimental study (two groups and pre-post design), funded by the Innovation Fund. As part of the ReKo project, people in need of care and their relatives are assisted by a case management (CM) system. An independent CM, supported by an IT network that includes the most important service providers, is to establish a comprehensive CM for people in need of care. Based on a literature review, this paper aimed to take a conceptual approach to the ReKo project by drawing on previous research and comparing the findings with the ReKo approach. The review considered CM projects that defined avoidance of hospitalization and/or delay in the transition of care recipients to long-term inpatient care as endpoints. Using PubMed and Google Scholar, the study screened 270 articles, abstracted and quality-assessed data, and included eight randomized clinical trials, two other studies, and seven reviews in the analysis. The review results and ReKo approaches are presented along the dimensions of clinical and medical benefits, community and public health benefits, economic benefits, and political and legislative benefits. CM organizations will continue to be established internationally in aging societies. The questions of improving quality of care, avoiding service costs, and the costs of establishing a CM must be raised, even if clear evidence is difficult to provide.

Case Management für Personen mit Pflegebedarf und gebrechliche ältere Personen

Eine wachsende Fallschwere, höheres Lebensalter und teilweise nicht vorhandene familiäre Betreuungsnetze führen dazu, dass die Koordination von medizinisch-pflegerischen Leistungen und sozialen Unterstützungsleistungen nicht in jedem Fall zu einer adäquaten Versorgungssituation beitragen. Um Menschen soweit als möglich im eigenen Lebens- und Betreuungsumfeld zu halten, ist ein adjustierter Care-Mix zwischen Familienpflege und professioneller Pflege notwendig.

Die Betreuung eines vulnerablen Personenkreises durch professionelle wie informelle Akteure bedarf allerdings einer professionellen Koordination. Das Prinzip des Case Managements kann in fast idealtypischer Weise eingesetzt werden, um professionelle und informelle Akteure in einen Care-Prozess zu integrieren und sowohl medizinische Leistungen als auch Pflege- und Betreuungsleistungen im dazu nötigen Setting auszubalancieren.

Eine stärke Koordination von Pflegeleistungen ist als Notwendigkeit weithin anerkannt. In verschiedenen Projektansätzen werden Ansätze wie Case Management, Pflegelosten, professionelle Krankenhausnachbetreuung und Gemeindeschwesteransätze erprobt und gelebt.

Die Auswertung internationaler Studien im Bereich des Case Managements zeigen grundsätzlich eine proaktivere Herangehensweise an, mit der Empfehlung, eine für ein zielführendes Case Management frühzeitigere und spezifischere Fallauswahl vorzunehmen. Die klare Definition der Einschlusskriterien, die Konzentration auf Patient*innen mit einer hohen Wiederaufnahmewahrscheinlichkeit und ein intensives Case Management können so zu effektiveren Versorgungsergebnissen und reduzierten Inanspruchnahmen von Leistungen führen.

In diesem Beitrag soll die Frage diskutiert werden, ob die bestehenden Beratungs- und Lotsenangebote gebündelt, fusioniert und zu einer Case Management-Organisation weiterentwickelt werden können. Insbesondere, falls sich die bestehenden Angebote überschneiden und vorhandene Ressourcen nicht ausreichend koordiniert werden.

Es sollen insbesondere Organisationsstrukturen aufgezeigt werden, in denen Case Management langfristig verortet werden könnte. Hier gilt es die Bedeutung der eigenständigen pflegeinfrastrukturellen Rolle eines erweiterten Case Managements zu verdeutlichen.

How Do Health Care Professionals Perceive a Holistic Care Approach for Geriatric Patients? A Focus Group Study

BACKGROUND

Geriatric patients require holistic care in order to meet their complex care needs. The project RubiN (Continuous Care in a Regional Network) provides case and care management (CCM) for older people to address these needs in a primary care setting in Germany. This study aimed to explore the experiences of health care professionals who provided CCM for geriatric patients.

METHODS

Focus group interviews with general practitioners (GPs), health care assistants (HCAs), and case managers (CMs) were conducted. Transcribed data were analyzed by using qualitative content analysis.

RESULTS

Ten focus group discussions (n = 15 GPs, n = 14 HCAs, n = 17 CMs) were conducted. The different health care professionals emphasized the importance of a holistic care approach to geriatric care. Moreover, the GPs stated that the CMs supported the patients in organizing their care. A CCM could help encourage patients to remain at their own homes, which would have an effect on patients' quality of life and satisfaction.

CONCLUSION

A well-functioning and effective cooperation between those health professionals involved is a prerequisite for a trustful relationship in the holistic care of older people. This creates a feeling of security for all people involved in the care process.

A protocol for a multi-site cohort study to evaluate child and adolescent mental health service transformation in England using the i-THRIVE model

The National i-THRIVE Programme seeks to evaluate the impact of the NHS England-funded whole system transformation on child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). This article reports on the design for a model of implementation that has been applied in CAMHS across over 70 areas in England using the 'THRIVE' needs-based principles of care. The implementation protocol in which this model, 'i-THRIVE' (implementing-THRIVE), will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the THRIVE intervention is reported, together with the evaluation protocol for the process of implementation. To evaluate the effectiveness of i-THRIVE to improve care for children and young people's mental health, a cohort study design will be conducted. N = 10 CAMHS sites that adopt the i-THRIVE model from the start of the NHS England-funded CAMHS transformation will be compared to N = 10 'comparator sites' that choose to use different transformation approaches within the same timeframe. Sites will be matched on population size, urbanicity, funding, level of deprivation and expected prevalence of mental health care needs. To evaluate the process of implementation, a mixed-methods approach will be conducted to explore the moderating effects of context, fidelity, dose, pathway structure and reach on clinical and service level outcomes. This study addresses a unique opportunity to inform the ongoing national transformation of CAMHS with evidence about a popular new model for delivering children and young people's mental health care, as well as a new implementation approach to support whole system transformation. If the outcomes reflect benefit from i-THRIVE, this study has the potential to guide significant improvements in CAMHS by providing a more integrated, needs-led service model that increases access and involvement of patients with services and in the care they receive.

Effectiveness of the chronic care model for adults with type 2 diabetes in primary care: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Mixed evidence exists regarding the effectiveness of the Chronic Care Model (CCM) with patient outcomes. The aim of this review is to examine the effectiveness of CCM interventions on hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), LDL cholesterol and body mass index (BMI) among primary care adults with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials, Scopus and Web of Science were searched from January 1990 to June 2021 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing CCM interventions against usual care among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus in primary care with HbA1c, SBP, DBP, LDL cholesterol and BMI as outcomes. An abbreviated search was performed from 2021 to April 2022. This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for data extraction and Cochrane risk of bias assessment. Two reviewers independently extracted the data. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager software. Heterogeneity was evaluated using χ2 and I2 test statistics. Overall effects were evaluated using Z statistic.

RESULTS

A total of 17 studies involving 16485 patients were identified. Most studies had low risks of bias. Meta-analysis of all 17 studies revealed that CCM interventions significantly decreased HbA1c levels compared to usual care, with a mean difference (MD) of -0.21%, 95% CI -0.30, -0.13; Z = 5.07, p<0.00001. Larger effects were experienced among adults with baseline HbA1c ≥8% (MD -0.36%, 95% CI -0.51, -0.21; Z = 5.05, p<0.00001) and when four or more CCM elements were present in the interventions (MD -0.25%, 95% CI -0.35, -0.15; Z = 4.85, p<0.00001). Interventions with CCM decreased SBP (MD -2.93 mmHg, 95% CI -4.46, -1.40, Z = 3.75, p=0.0002) and DBP (MD -1.35 mmHg, 95% CI -2.05, -0.65, Z = 3.79, p=0.0002) compared to usual care but there was no impact on LDL cholesterol levels or BMI.

CONCLUSIONS

CCM interventions, compared to usual care, improve glycaemic control among adults with type 2 diabetes in primary care, with greater reductions when the mean baseline HbA1c is ≥8% and with interventions containing four or more CCM elements.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO  CRD42021273959.

Cost-effectiveness of a community-based integrated care model compared with usual care for older adults with complex needs: a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised trial

Objective

To assess the cost of implementation, delivery and cost-effectiveness (CE) of a flagship community-based integrated care model (OPEN ARCH) against the usual primary care.

Design

A 9-month stepped-wedge cluster-randomised trial.

Setting and participants

Community-dwelling older adults with chronic conditions and complex care needs were recruited from primary care (14 general practices) in Far North Queensland, Australia.

Methods

Costs and outcomes were measured at 3-month windows from the healthcare system and patient’s out-of-pocket perspectives for the analysis. Outcomes included functional status (Functional Independence Measure (FIM)) and health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-3L and AQoL-8D). Bayesian CE analysis with 10 000 Monte Carlo simulations was performed using the BCEA package in R (V.3.6.1).

Results

The OPEN ARCH model of care had an average cost of $A1354 per participant. The average age of participants was 81, and 55% of the cohort were men. Within-trial multilevel regression models adjusted for time, general practitioner cluster and baseline confounders showed no significant differences in costs, resource use or effect measures regardless of the analytical perspective. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis with 10 000 simulations showed that OPEN ARCH could be recommended over usual care for improving functional independence at a willing to pay above $A600 (US$440) per improvement of one point on the FIM Scale and for avoiding or reducing inpatient stay for any willingness-to-pay threshold up to $A50 000 (US$36 500).

Conclusions and implications

OPEN ARCH was associated with a favourable Bayesian CE profile in improving functional status and dependency levels, avoiding or reducing inpatient stay compared with usual primary care in the Australian context.

Trial registration number

ACTRN12617000198325.

Effectiveness of a population-based integrated care model in reducing hospital activity: an interrupted time series analysis

Objectives

First impact assessment analysis of an integrated care model (ICM) to reduce hospital activity in the London Borough of Hillingdon, UK.

Methods

We evaluated a population-based ICM consisting of multiple interventions based on self-management, multidisciplinary teams, case management and discharge management. The sample included 331 330 registered Hillingdon residents (at the time of data extraction) between October 2018 and July 2020. Longitudinal data was extracted from the Whole Systems Integrated Care database. Interrupted time series Poisson and Negative binomial regressions were used to examine changes in non-elective hospital admissions (NEL admissions), accident and emergency visits (A&E) and length of stay (LoS) at the hospital. Multiple imputations were used to replace missing data. Subgroup analysis of various groups with and without long-term conditions (LTC) was also conducted using the same models.

Results

In the whole registered population of Hillingdon at the time of data collection, gradual decline over time in NEL admissions (RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.90 to 0.92), A&E visits (RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.93 to 0.95) and LoS (RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.92 to 0.94) following an immediate increase during the first months of implementation in the three outcomes was observed. Subgroup analysis across different groups, including those with and without LTCs, showed similar effects. Sensitivity analysis did not show a notable change compared with the original analysis.

Conclusion

The Hillingdon ICM showed effectiveness in reducing NEL admissions, A&E visits and LoS. However, further investigations and analyses could confirm the results of this study and rule out the potential effects of some confounding events, such as the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic.

[Cost-Effectiveness of Case and Care Management in Older Populations in Germany: a Systematic Literature Review]

BACKGROUND

Despite trends toward longer-lasting health, the complexity of older people's health problems is increasing, raising the need for interprofessional care in all settings. A lack of coordination among providers risks fragmented care, leading to a repetition or gaps in services, conflicting treatment recommendations, medication errors and higher costs. Accordingly, new integrated models of care are needed that are based on patient needs. Case and Care Management (CCM) is currently being tested in Germany in a variety of settings to improve care.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of the present study was to analyze the results of health economic evaluations of CCM interventions in Germany in populations over 60 years of age compared to standard care.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study is based on a systematic literature review conducted via Pubmed and Livivo and supplemented by a comprehensive hand search. The primary studies included for analysis were assessed using the CHEERS statement and narratively synthesized.

RESULTS

A total of five cost-effectiveness studies were included, predominantly based on randomized controlled trials. Results regarding cost effectiveness were mixed. Individual studies found significant differences on effectiveness and cost endpoints.

CONCLUSIONS

The mixed, small number of studies does not currently provide a clear picture of whether CCM interventions have health economic advantages over standard care. Further research is indicated. Innovation fund projects on the topic area are expected to generate new evidence in the future.

'Value-based methodology for person-centred, integrated care supported by Information and Communication Technologies' (ValueCare) for older people in Europe: study protocol for a pre-post controlled trial

Background

Older people receive care from multiple providers which often results in a lack of coordination. The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) enabled value-based methodology for integrated care (ValueCare) project aims to develop and implement efficient outcome-based, integrated health and social care for older people with multimorbidity, and/or frailty, and/or mild to moderate cognitive impairment in seven sites (Athens, Greece; Coimbra, Portugal; Cork/Kerry, Ireland; Rijeka, Croatia; Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Treviso, Italy; and Valencia, Spain). We will evaluate the implementation and the outcomes of the ValueCare approach. This paper presents the study protocol of the ValueCare project; a protocol for a pre-post controlled study in seven large-scale sites in Europe over the period between 2021 and 2023.

Methods

A pre-post controlled study design including three time points (baseline, post-intervention after 12 months, and follow-up after 18 months) and two groups (intervention and control group) will be utilised. In each site, (net) 240 older people (120 in the intervention group and 120 in the control group), 50–70 informal caregivers (e.g. relatives, friends), and 30–40 health and social care practitioners will be invited to participate and provide informed consent. Self-reported outcomes will be measured in multiple domains; for older people: health, wellbeing, quality of life, lifestyle behaviour, and health and social care use; for informal caregivers and health and social care practitioners: wellbeing, perceived burden and (job) satisfaction. In addition, implementation outcomes will be measured in terms of acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility, fidelity, and costs. To evaluate differences in outcomes between the intervention and control group (multilevel) logistic and linear regression analyses will be used. Qualitative analysis will be performed on the focus group data.

Discussion

This study will provide new insights into the feasibility and effectiveness of a value-based methodology for integrated care supported by ICT for older people, their informal caregivers, and health and social care practitioners in seven different European settings.

Trial registration

ISRCTN registry number is 25089186. Date of trial registration is 16/11/2021.

Title: the impact of a pilot integrated care model on the quality and costs of inpatient care among chinese elderly: a difference-in-difference analysis of repeated cross-sectional data

Background

Recently, integrated care has received tremendous popularity in China, a leading example of which is the Luohu model. In the present analysis, we aimed to examine the impacts of the Luohu model on the quality and costs of inpatient care.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis using administrative claims databases of Shenzhen City (the city that the Luohu district sits) from Jan 2015–Apr 2017, which encompassed the time before and after the implementation of the pilot model. The outcomes were 30-day readmission, inpatient costs, and length of stay (LOS). Multivariable difference-in-difference analyses were conducted.

Results

In the first year following the integration, the Luohu model did not have impacts on any of the outcomes. Although its effect on readmission (ratio of odds ratio: 1.082; 95% CI: 0.865 to 1.353) was still not identified in the first four months of the second post-integration year, it decreased inpatient costs by CN¥ 1224.1 (95% CI: 372.7 to 2075.5) and LOS by 0.938 days (95% CI: 0.0416 to 1.835) per hospitalization episode during the same period.

Conclusions

The Luohu model may reduce costs and LOS in the long term. It is potentially a viable approach to improve the value of inpatient care in China.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12962-022-00361-4.

Community-Based Advanced Case Management for Patients with Complex Multimorbidity and High Medical Dependence: A Longitudinal Study

This longitudinal study aimed to evaluate a community-based and nurse-led advanced case management model centered on disease management. Participants were chronically ill patients aged 20 years and older who were highly dependent on medical care. The case management group (CMG) received nurse-led advanced case management, and the comparison group (CG) was selected by matching estimated propensity scores with the CMG. We compared the changes in medico-economic indicators between the two groups and analyzed the physical and psychological indicators of the CMG over time. The CMG comprised 51 participants, of which eight dropped out by 12 months after registration. After 1:1 propensity score matching, there were 40 participants in the CMG and CG, respectively. At 12 months after the registration, there was no significant difference between the two groups and no change in the CMG. At 24 months after the registration, the CMG’s medical and long-term care costs decreased significantly, while the CG’s costs increased. Moreover, there was a significant reduction in the number of hospital days and hospital admissions in the CMG. Our findings revealed that nurse-led advanced case management could be useful for patients with complex needs to avoid hospitalization due to exacerbations.

Effectiveness of integrated care interventions for patients with long-term conditions: a review of systematic reviews

To examine the effectiveness of integrated care intervention (ICI) models (stand-alone or combination of self-management, discharge management, case management and multidisciplinary teams models) targeting patients with one or more chronic conditions, and to identify outcome measures/indicators of effectiveness, we conducted a systematic review of published systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Included reviews comprise ICIs targeting adult patients with one or more long-term conditions. We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews: 60 reviews were included in the final analysis; 28 reviews evaluated ICIs focused on self-management, 4 on case management, 10 on discharge management and 5 on multidisciplinary teams; 13 reviews assessed multiple interventions that were labelled as complex. Across all reviews, only 19 reviews included intervention with multiple ICIs. Overall, interventions with multiple components, compared with interventions with single components, were more likely to improve hospital use outcomes effectively. Clinical/lifestyle/condition-specific outcomes were more likely to be improved by self-management interventions. Outcome measures identified could be classified into three main categories: organisational, patient-centred and clinical/lifestyle/condition-specific. The findings of this review may provide inputs to future design and evaluation of ICIs.

Factors associated with increased Emergency Department transfer in older long-term care residents: a systematic review

The proportion of adults older than 65 years is rapidly increasing. Care home residents in this age group have disproportionate rates of transfer to the Emergency Department (ED) and around 40% of attendances might be avoidable. We did a systematic review to identify factors that predict ED transfer from care homes. Six electronic databases were searched. Observational studies that provided estimates of association between ED attendance and variables at a resident or care home level were included. 26 primary studies met the inclusion criteria. Seven common domains of factors assessed for association with ED transfer were identified and within these domains, male sex, age, presence of specific comorbidities, polypharmacy, rural location, and care home quality rating were associated with likelihood of ED transfer. The identification of these factors provides useful information for policy makers and researchers intending to either develop interventions to reduce hospitalisations or use adjusted rates of hospitalisation as a care home quality indicator.

Recommendations for the Design and Delivery of Transitions-Focused Digital Health Interventions: Rapid Review

Background

Older adults experience a high risk of adverse events during hospital-to-home transitions. Implementation barriers have prevented widespread clinical uptake of the various digital health technologies that aim to support hospital-to-home transitions.

Objective

To guide the development of a digital health intervention to support transitions from hospital to home (the Digital Bridge intervention), the specific objectives of this review were to describe the various roles and functions of health care providers supporting hospital-to-home transitions for older adults, allowing future technologies to be more targeted to support their work; describe the types of digital health interventions used to facilitate the transition from hospital to home for older adults and elucidate how these interventions support the roles and functions of providers; describe the lessons learned from the design and implementation of these interventions; and identify opportunities to improve the fit between technology and provider functions within the Digital Bridge intervention and other transition-focused digital health interventions.

Methods

This 2-phase rapid review involved a selective review of providers’ roles and their functions during hospital-to-home transitions (phase 1) and a structured literature review on digital health interventions used to support older adults’ hospital-to-home transitions (phase 2). During the analysis, the technology functions identified in phase 2 were linked to the provider roles and functions identified in phase 1.

Results

In phase 1, various provider roles were identified that facilitated hospital-to-home transitions, including navigation-specific roles and the roles of nurses and physicians. The key transition functions performed by providers were related to the 3 categories of continuity of care (ie, informational, management, and relational continuity). Phase 2, included articles (n=142) that reported digital health interventions targeting various medical conditions or groups. Most digital health interventions supported management continuity (eg, follow-up, assessment, and monitoring of patients’ status after hospital discharge), whereas informational and relational continuity were the least supported. The lessons learned from the interventions were categorized into technology- and research-related challenges and opportunities and informed several recommendations to guide the design of transition-focused digital health interventions.

Conclusions

This review highlights the need for Digital Bridge and other digital health interventions to align the design and delivery of digital health interventions with provider functions, design and test interventions with older adults, and examine multilevel outcomes.

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

RR2-10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045596

Efficacy of telehealth in integrated chronic disease management for older, multimorbid adults with heart failure: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

We conducted a systematic review to assess the comparative efficacy of integrated telehealth versus other strategies of chronic disease management in older, multimorbid adults with heart failure (HF) in primary care and community settings. Specific efficacy outcomes included CVD-related hospitalizations, rehospitalizations, and mortality.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE, CINAHL, and CENTRAL from the date of each database's inception to January 2020. The literature search retrieved 9,181 articles, which were screened by two independent raters. Twenty-two of these articles were included in the systematic review. Data extraction, risk of bias assessment, and narrative synthesis followed article screening.

RESULTS

This systematic review found that integrated telehealth is efficacious in reducing CVD-related hospitalizations, rehospitalizations, and mortality in older, multimorbid adults within primary care and community settings. However, numerous discrepancies existed between the studies, due largely to differences in telehealth modalities and risk of bias. Overall, the combinations of modalities were so diverse that the reviewed literature did not suggest an optimal integrated telehealth strategy. At most, no more than three studies featured the same combination of telehealth modalities and outcomes. Furthermore, only 3 of the 22 included RCTs scored low on the Cochrane risk of bias tool.

CONCLUSIONS

Researchers should focus on the quality of future RCTs to better assess the efficacy of different telehealth modalities in multimorbid older adults with HF. Also, since all the included RCTs focused on HF, a knowledge gap exists with regard to the efficacy of using integrated telehealth to manage other cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

Integrated care in Western Europe: a wise solution for the future?

INTRODUCTION

IC is a term commonly adopted across the world underpinning a positive attitude against fragmentation of healthcare service provision. While the principles supporting IC are simple, their implementation is more controversial.

AREAS COVERED

The growing number of IC definitions is related to the increasing domains of applications, which reflect the increasing demand induced by aging multi-morbid patients. A comprehensive definition of IC should now include the coordination of health and social services useful to deliver continuous care across organizational boundaries. The recent debate on IC is largely influenced by the mismatch between the increasing burden of health and social needs for chronic conditions from the demand side, and the design of health-care systems still focused on acute care from the supply side.

EXPERT OPINION

The major reasons of persisting IC weakness in European countries stem from arguable choices of health policy taken in the recent past. The political creed in 'market competition' is probably the most emblematic. All initiatives encouraging health-care providers to compete with each other are likely to discourage IC. Since most European GPs are still self-employed professionals working in their own cabinets, the anachronistic professional status of GPs is another historically rooted reason of IC weakness.

Effectiveness of a 24-hour access outpatient clinic for patients with chronic conditions in hospital outpatient follow-up: a registry-based controlled cohort study of healthcare utilisation and mortality

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of a 24-hour telephone access outpatient clinic (24-hour access clinic) in terms of healthcare utilisation and mortality in patients with five chronic conditions (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, atrial fibrillation/flutter, congestive heart failure, inflammatory bowel disease and chronic liver disease).

Methods and analysis

This was a registry-based controlled cohort study. The 24-hour access clinic was established at Silkeborg Regional Hospital in Central Denmark Region. The five other regional hospitals served as comparison hospitals. The 24-hour access clinic allowed patients with five chronic conditions with ongoing hospital outpatient follow-up to call the hospital outpatient clinic in case of an exacerbation. Outcomes were use of hospital admissions, length of stay (LOS), outpatient visits, contacts to general practice and all-cause mortality during 18 months of follow-up.

Results

The study included 992 the 24-hour access patients and 3878 usual care patients. For the five conditions combined, the 24 hours access patients had fewer all-cause admissions (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 0.81, 95% Cl 0.71 to 0.92), general practice out-of-hours contacts (IRR 0.81, 95% C 0.71 to .92) and shorter LOS (IRR 0.71, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.88). The rate of all-cause outpatient visits tended to be higher (IRR 1.07, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.15). General practice daytime contacts were similar between the groups, and there was no significant difference in mortality.

Conclusions

The results suggest that a 24-hour telephone access clinic may lead to enhanced integration of care measured as unplanned acute care substituted with planned outpatient care.

Linking health service utilisation and mortality data-unravelling what happens after fall-related paramedic care

BACKGROUND

A randomised controlled trial implemented and evaluated a new model of care for non-transported older fallers to prevent future falls and unplanned health service use. This current study uses linked data to evaluate the effects of the intervention beyond the initial 12-month study period.

METHOD

Study data from an established cohort of 221 adults were linked to administrative data from NSW Ambulance, Emergency Department Data Collection, Admitted Patient Data Collection and Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages evaluating health service use at 12, 24 and 36 months following randomisation including time to event (health service utilisation) and mortality. Negative binomial and Cox's proportional hazard regression were performed to capture the impact of the study between groups and adherence status.

RESULTS

At 36 months follow-up, 89% of participants called an ambulance, 87% attended the Emergency Department and 91% were admitted to hospital. There were no significant differences in all-cause health service utilisation between the control and intervention group (IG) at 12, 24 and 36 months follow-up. Fall-related health service use was significantly higher within the IG at 12 (IRR:1.40 (95%CI:1.01-1.94) and 24 months (IRR:1.43 (95%CI:1.05-1.95)). Medication use, impaired balance and previous falls were associated with subsequent health service use. Over 40% of participants died by the follow-up period with risk of death lower in the IG at 36 months (HR:0.64, 95%CI:0.45-0.91).

CONCLUSION

Non-transported fallers have a high risk of future health service use for fall and other medical-related reasons. Interventions which address this risk need to be further explored.

Economic Aspects of Delivering Primary Care Services: An Evidence Synthesis to Inform Policy and Research Priorities

Policy Points The 2018 Declaration of Astana reemphasized the importance of primary health care and its role in achieving universal health coverage. While there is a large amount of literature on the economic aspects of delivering primary care services, there is a need for more comprehensive overviews of this evidence. In this article, we offer such an overview. Evidence suggests that there are several strategies involving coverage, financing, service delivery, and governance arrangements which can, if implemented, have positive economic impacts on the delivery of primary care services. These include arrangements such as worker task-shifting and telemedicine. The implementation of any such arrangements, based on positive economic evidence, should carefully account for potential impacts on overall health care access and quality. There are many opportunities for further research, with notable gaps in evidence on the impacts of increasing primary care funding or the overall supply of primary care services.

CONTEXT

The 2018 Declaration of Astana reemphasized the importance of primary health care and its role in achieving universal health coverage. To strengthen primary health care, policymakers need guidance on how to allocate resources in a manner that maximizes its economic benefits.

METHODS

We collated and synthesized published systematic reviews of evidence on the economic aspects of different models of delivering primary care services. Building on previous efforts, we adapted existing taxonomies of primary care components to classify our results according to four categories: coverage, financing, service delivery, and governance.

FINDINGS

We identified and classified 109 reviews that met our inclusion criteria according to our taxonomy of primary care components: coverage, financing, service delivery, and governance arrangements. A significant body of evidence suggests that several specific primary care arrangements, such as health workers' task shifting and telemedicine, can have positive economic impacts (such as lower overall health care costs). Notably absent were reviews on the impact of increasing primary care funding or the overall supply of primary care services.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a great opportunity for further research to systematically examine the broader economic impacts of investing in primary care services. Despite progress over the last decade, significant evidence gaps on the economic implications of different models of primary care services remain, which could help inform the basis of future research efforts.

The development and validation of population clusters for integrating health and social care: A protocol for a mixed-methods study in Multiple Long-Term Conditions (Cluster-AIM) (Preprint)

Background

Multiple long-term health conditions (multimorbidity) (MLTC-M) are increasingly prevalent and associated with high rates of morbidity, mortality, and health care expenditure. Strategies to address this have primarily focused on the biological aspects of disease, but MLTC-M also result from and are associated with additional psychosocial, economic, and environmental barriers. A shift toward more personalized, holistic, and integrated care could be effective. This could be made more efficient by identifying groups of populations based on their health and social needs. In turn, these will contribute to evidence-based solutions supporting delivery of interventions tailored to address the needs pertinent to each cluster. Evidence is needed on how to generate clusters based on health and social needs and quantify the impact of clusters on long-term health and costs.

Objective

We intend to develop and validate population clusters that consider determinants of health and social care needs for people with MLTC-M using data-driven machine learning (ML) methods compared to expert-driven approaches within primary care national databases, followed by evaluation of cluster trajectories and their association with health outcomes and costs.

Methods

The mixed methods program of work with parallel work streams include the following: (1) qualitative semistructured interview studies exploring patient, caregiver, and professional views on clinical and socioeconomic factors influencing experiences of living with or seeking care in MLTC-M; (2) modified Delphi with relevant stakeholders to generate variables on health and social (wider) determinants and to examine the feasibility of including these variables within existing primary care databases; and (3) cohort study with expert-driven segmentation, alongside data-driven algorithms. Outputs will be compared, clusters characterized, and trajectories over time examined to quantify associations with mortality, additional long-term conditions, worsening frailty, disease severity, and 10-year health and social care costs.

Results

The study will commence in October 2021 and is expected to be completed by October 2023.

Conclusions

By studying MLTC-M clusters, we will assess how more personalized care can be developed, how accurate costs can be provided, and how to better understand the personal and medical profiles and environment of individuals within each cluster. Integrated care that considers “whole persons” and their environment is essential in addressing the complex, diverse, and individual needs of people living with MLTC-M.

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/34405

Can integrated care improve the efficiency of hospitals? Research based on 200 Hospitals in China

Background

The shift towards integrated care (IC) represents a global trend towards more comprehensive and coordinated systems of care, particularly for vulnerable populations, such as the elderly. When health systems face fiscal constraints, integrated care has been advanced as a potential solution by simultaneously improving health service effectiveness and efficiency. This paper addresses the latter. There are three study objectives: first, to compare efficiency differences between IC and non-IC hospitals in China; second, to examine variations in efficiency among different types of IC hospitals; and finally, to explore whether the implementation of IC impacts hospital efficiency.

Methods

This study uses Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to calculate efficiency scores among a sample of 200 hospitals in H Province, China. Tobit regression analysis was performed to explore the influence of IC implementation on hospital efficiency scores after adjustment for potential confounding. Moreover, the association between various input and output variables and the implementation of IC was investigated using regression techniques.

Results

The study has four principal findings: first, IC hospitals, on average, are shown to be more efficient than non-IC hospitals after adjustment for covariates. Holding output constant, IC hospitals are shown to reduce their current input mix by 12% and 4% to achieve optimal efficiency under constant and variable returns-to-scale, respectively, while non-IC hospitals have to reduce their input mix by 26 and 20% to achieve the same level of efficiency; second, with respect to the efficiency of each type of IC, we show that higher efficiency scores are achieved by administrative and virtual IC models over a contractual IC model; third, we demonstrate that IC influences hospitals efficiency by impacting various input and output variables, such as length of stay, inpatient admissions, and staffing; fourth, while bed density per nurse was positively associated with hospital efficiency, the opposite was shown for bed density per physician.

Conclusions

IC has the potential to promote hospital efficiency by influencing an array of input and output variables. Policies designed to facilitate the implementation of IC in hospitals need to be cognizant of the complex way IC impacts hospital efficiency.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12962-021-00314-3.

Measuring the impact of a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Community Respiratory Programme on emergency admissions to hospital: a controlled interrupted time series analysis

BACKGROUND

A community respiratory service was implemented in the North West of Glasgow (NW) in January 2013, as part of the Reshaping Care for Older People programme (RCOP). This study aimed to measure the impact of the service on older people's emergency admissions (EAs) to hospital.

METHODS

EAs to hospital with a primary diagnosis of COPD (COPD EAs) per 1,000 population aged 65 years+ in NW were compared before and after onset of the service with a 6-month phase-in period, using segmented linear regression. South and North East Glasgow (S + NE) was the control-an area with no such service in place. The model adjusted for the rate of all-cause EAs to control for the impact of other localised RCOPP initiatives. Autoregressive terms and a Fourier term to adjust for seasonality were included in the model.

RESULTS

Prior to implementation of the respiratory service, increases in COPD EAs over time were evident in NW. Adjusting for changes in COPD EAs in NE + S, an additional reduction of -0.04 (-0.03, -0.05) per 1,000 population per month was observed in NW following the phase-in, so that by March 2015, the predicted reduction due to the respiratory service was -0.85 COPD EAs per 1,000 population, a relative reduction of 34.3%. No significant changes in admissions with COPD as a secondary diagnosis (COPD5 EAs) were observed, suggesting that the intervention had no impact on these.

CONCLUSIONS

The community respiratory service was associated with a significant reduction in the rate of COPD EAs among older people and no change in COPD5 EAs.

Implementing mHealth-Enabled Integrated Care for Complex Chronic Patients With Osteoarthritis Undergoing Primary Hip or Knee Arthroplasty: Prospective, Two-Arm, Parallel Trial

Background

Osteoarthritis is a disabling condition that is often associated with other comorbidities. Total hip or knee arthroplasty is an effective surgical treatment for osteoarthritis when indicated, but comorbidities can impair their results by increasing complications and social and economic costs. Integrated care (IC) models supported by eHealth can increase efficiency through defragmentation of care and promote patient-centeredness.

Objective

This study aims to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of implementing a mobile health (mHealth)–enabled IC model for complex chronic patients undergoing primary total hip or knee arthroplasty.

Methods

As part of the Horizon 2020 Personalized Connected Care for Complex Chronic Patients (CONNECARE) project, a prospective, pragmatic, two-arm, parallel implementation trial was conducted in the rural region of Lleida, Catalonia, Spain. For 3 months, complex chronic patients undergoing total hip or knee arthroplasty and their caregivers received the combined benefits of the CONNECARE organizational IC model and the eHealth platform supporting it, consisting of a patient self-management app, a set of integrated sensors, and a web-based platform connecting professionals from different settings, or usual care (UC). We assessed changes in health status (12-item short-form survey [SF-12]), unplanned visits and admissions during a 6-month follow-up, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio.

Results

A total of 29 patients were recruited for the mHealth-enabled IC arm, and 30 patients were recruited for the UC arm. Both groups were statistically comparable for baseline characteristics, such as age; sex; type of arthroplasty; and Charlson index, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, Barthel index, Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, and Pfeiffer mental status questionnaire scores. Patients in both groups had significant increases in the SF-12 physical domain and total SF-12 score, but differences in differences between the groups were not statistically significant. IC patients had 50% fewer unplanned visits (P=.006). Only 1 hospital admission was recorded during the follow-up (UC arm). The IC program generated savings in different cost scenarios, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio demonstrated cost-effectiveness.

Conclusions

Chronic patients undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty can benefit from the implementation of patient-centered mHealth-enabled IC models aimed at empowering patients and facilitating transitions from specialized hospital care to primary care. Such models can reduce unplanned contacts with the health system and reduce overall health costs, proving to be cost-effective. Overall, our findings support the notion of system-wide cross-organizational care pathways supported by mHealth as a successful way to implement IC for patients undergoing elective surgery.

Evaluating an integrated care pathway for frail elderly patients in Norway using multi-criteria decision analysis

Background

To provide value-based care for patients with multi-morbidity, innovative integrated care programmes and comprehensive evaluations of such programmes are required. In Norway, a new programme called “Holistic Continuity of Patient Care” (HCPC) addresses the issue of multi-morbidity by providing integrated care within learning networks for frail elderly patients who receive municipal home care services or a short-term stay in a nursing home. This study conducts a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) to evaluate whether the HCPC programme performs better on a large set of outcomes corresponding to the ‘triple aim’ compared to usual care.

Methods

Prospective longitudinal survey data were collected at baseline and follow-up after 6-months. The assessment of HCPC was implemented by a novel MCDA framework. The relative weights of importance of the outcomes used in the MCDA were obtained from a discrete choice experiment among five different groups of stakeholders. The performance score was estimated using a quasi-experimental design and linear mixed methods. Performance scores were standardized and multiplied by their weights of importance to obtain the overall MCDA value by stakeholder group.

Results

At baseline in the HCPC and usual care groups, respectively, 120 and 89 patients responded, of whom 87 and 41 responded at follow-up. The average age at baseline was 80.0 years for HCPC and 83.6 for usual care. Matching reduced the standardized differences between the groups for patient background characteristics and outcome variables. The MCDA results indicated that HCPC was preferred to usual care irrespective of stakeholders. The better performance of HCPC was mostly driven by improvements in enjoyment of life, psychological well-being, and social relationships and participation. Results were consistent with sensitivity analyses using Monte Carlo simulation.

Conclusion

Frail elderly with multi-morbidity represent complex health problems at large costs for society in terms of health- and social care. This study is a novel contribution to assessing and understanding HCPC programme performance respecting the multi-dimensionality of desired outcomes. Integrated care programmes like HCPC may improve well-being of patients, be cost-saving, and contribute to the pursuit of evidence based gradual reforms in the care of frail elderly.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-021-06805-6.

Innovative Managed Care May Be Related to Improved Prognosis for Acute Myocardial Infarction Survivors

BACKGROUND

Mortality following discharge in myocardial infarction survivors remains high. Therefore, we compared outcomes in myocardial infarction survivors participating and not participating in a novel, nationwide managed care program for myocardial infarction survivors in Poland.

METHODS

We used public databases. We included all patients hospitalized due to acute myocardial infarction in Poland between October 1, 2017 and December 31, 2018. We excluded from the analysis all patients aged <18 years as well as those who died during hospitalization or within 10 days following discharge from hospital. All patients were prospectively followed. The primary end point was defined as death from any cause.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up was 324.8±140.5 days (78 034.1 patient-years; 340.0±131.7 days in those who did not die during the observation). Participation in the managed care program was related to higher odds ratio of participating in cardiac rehabilitation (4.67 [95% CI, 4.44-4.88]), consultation with a cardiologist (7.32 [6.83-7.84]), implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (1.40 [1.22-1.61]), and cardiac resynchronization therapy with cardioverter-defibrillator implantation (1.57 [1.22-2.03]) but lower odds of emergency (0.88 [0.79-0.98]) and nonemergency percutaneous coronary intervention (0.88 [0.83-0.93]) and coronary artery bypass grafting (0.82 [0.71-0.94]) during the follow-up. One-year all-cause mortality was 4.4% among the program participants and 6.0% in matched nonparticipants. The end point consisting of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, or stroke occurred in 10.6% and 12.0% (P<0.01) of participants and nonparticipants respectively, whereas all-cause death or hospitalization for cardiovascular reasons in 42.2% and 47.9% (P<0.001) among participants and nonparticipants, respectively. The difference in outcomes between patients participating and not participating in the managed care program could be explained by improved access to cardiac rehabilitation, cardiac care, and cardiac procedures.

CONCLUSIONS

Managed care following myocardial infarction may be related to improved prognosis as it may facilitate access to cardiac rehabilitation and may provide a higher standard of outpatient cardiac care.

Predicting all-cause unplanned readmission within 30 days of discharge using electronic medical record data: A multi-centre study

OBJECTIVE

To develop a predictive model for identifying patients at high risk of all-cause unplanned readmission within 30 days after discharge, using administrative data available before discharge.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Hospital administrative data of all adult admissions in three tertiary metropolitan hospitals in Australia between July 01, 2015, and July 31, 2016, were extracted. Predictive performance of four mixed-effect multivariable logistic regression models was compared and validated using a split-sample design. Diagnostic details (Charlson Comorbidity Index CCI, components of CCI, and primary diagnosis categorised into International Classification of Diseases chapters) were added gradually in the clinically simplified model with socio-demographic, index admission, and prior hospital utilisation variables.

RESULTS

Of the total 99 470 patients admitted, 5796 (5.8%) were re-admitted through the emergency department of three hospitals within 30 days after discharge. The clinically simplified model was as discriminative (C-statistic 0.694, 95% CI [0.681-0.706]) as other models and showed excellent calibration. Models with diagnostic details did not exhibit any substantial improvement in predicting 30-days unplanned readmission.

CONCLUSION

We propose a 10-item predictive model to flag high-risk patients in a diverse population before discharge using readily available hospital administrative data which can easily be integrated into the hospital information system.

Implementation of Integrated Primary Care for Patients with Diabetes and Hypertension: A Case from Slovenia

INTRODUCTION

Research on models of integrated health care for hypertension and diabetes is one of the priority issues in the world. There is a lack of knowledge about how integrated care is implemented in practice. Our study assessed its implementation in six areas: identification of patients, treatment, health education, self-management support, structured collaboration and organisation of care.

METHODS

This was a mixed methods study based on a triangulation method using quantitative and qualitative data. It took place in different types of primary health care organisations, in one urban and two rural regions of Slovenia. The main instrument for data collection was the Integrated Care Package (ICP) Grid, assessed through four methods: 1) a document analysis (of a current health policy and available protocols; 2) observation of the infrastructure of health centres, organisation of work, patient flow, interaction of patients with health professionals; 3) interview with key informants and 4) review of medical documentation of selected patients.

RESULTS

The implementation of the integrated care in Slovenia was assessed with the overall ICP score of 3.7 points (out of 5 possible points). The element Identification was almost fully implemented, while the element Self-management support was weakly implemented.

DISCUSSION

The implementation of the integrated care of patients with diabetes and/or hypertension in Slovenian primary health care organisations achieved high levels of implementation. However, some week points were identified.

CONCLUSION

Integrated care of the chronic patients in Slovenia is already provided at high levels, but the area of self-management support could be improved.

Impact of Integrated Care on the Rate of Hospitalization for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions among Older Adults in Stockholm County: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis

Introduction:

Reducing avoidable hospital admissions is often viewed as a possible positive consequence of introducing integrated care (IC). The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of implementing IC in Norrtälje on the rate of admissions for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSC).

Method:

Using interrupted time series analyses we investigated the effect of implementing IC in Norrtälje municipality in the northern part of Stockholm county, Sweden. The time period included 48 time points, from year 2000 to year 2011 with measurements before and after introducing IC in Norrtälje in 2006. In order to control for other extraneous events that could affect the outcome measure, but not related to the introduction of IC, we included a control population from Stockholm municipality.

Results:

After introducing IC in Norrtälje the rate of admissions for ACSC decreased. This decrease was greater in Norrtälje than in the matched control population, however the difference between the two areas was not statistically significant (p = 0.08).

Conclusion:

Introducing IC in Norrtälje may have had positive impact on admissions for ACSC for older people living in Norrtälje; however, the interpretation of the impact of IC on admissions for ACSC is complicated by intervening policy changes in health and social care during the study period.

Latinos understanding the need for adherence in diabetes (LUNA-D): a randomized controlled trial of an integrated team-based care intervention among Latinos with diabetes

We developed and tested a culturally appropriate, team-based, integrated primary care and behavioral health intervention in low income, Spanish-speaking Latinos with type 2 diabetes, at a federally qualified health center. This pragmatic randomized controlled trial included 456 Latino adults, 23-80 years, 63.7% female, with diabetes [recruitment glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥ 7.0%/53.01 mmol/mol)]. The Special Intervention occurred over 6 months and targeted improvement of HbA1c, blood pressure, and lipids. The intervention included: (i) four, same-day integrated medical and behavioral co-located visits; (ii) six group diabetes self-management education sessions addressing the cultural dimensions of diabetes and lifestyle messages; (iii) and care coordination. Usual Care participants received primary care provider led standard diabetes care, with referrals to health education and behavioral health as needed. HbA1c and lipids were obtained through electronic health records abstraction. Blood pressure was measured by trained research staff. Multi-level models showed a significant group by time interaction effect (B = -0.32, p < .01, 95% CI -0.49, -0.15), indicating statistically greater improvement in HbA1c level over 6 months in the Special Intervention group (ΔHbA1c = -0.35, p = <.01) versus Usual Care (ΔHbA1c = -0.02, p = .72). Marginally significant group by time interactions were also found for total cholesterol and diastolic blood pressure, with significant improvements in the Special Intervention group (p < .05). This culturally appropriate model of highly integrated care offers strategies that can assist with self-management goals and disease management for Latinos with diabetes in a federally qualified health center setting.

Integrating primary care and social services for older adults with multimorbidity: a qualitative study

Background

Growing demand from an increasingly ageing population with multimorbidity has resulted in complex health and social care needs requiring more integrated services. Integrating primary care with social services could utilise resources more efficiently, and improve experiences for patients, their families, and carers. There is limited evidence on progress including key barriers to and drivers of integration to inform large-scale national change.

Aim

To elicit stakeholder views on drivers and barriers of integrated primary care and social services, and highlight opportunities for successful implementation.

Design and setting

A qualitative interview study.

Method

Semi-structured interviews with maximum variation sampling to capture stakeholder views across services and professions.

Results

Thirty-seven interviews were conducted across England with people including GPs, nurses, social care staff, commissioners, local government officials, voluntary and private sector workers, patients, and carers. Drivers of integration included groups of like-minded individuals supported by good leadership, expanded interface roles to bridge gaps between systems, and co-location of services. Barriers included structural and interdisciplinary tension between professions, organisational self-interest, and challenges in record sharing.

Conclusion

Drivers and barriers to integration identified in other contexts are also present in primary care and social services. Benefits of integration are unlikely to be realised if these are not addressed in the design and execution of new initiatives. Efforts should go beyond local- and professional-level change to include wider systems- and policy-level initiatives. This will support a more systems-wide approach to integrated care reform, which is necessary to meet the complex and growing needs of an ageing multimorbid population.

The impacts of collaboration between local health care and non-health care organizations and factors shaping how they work: a systematic review of reviews

BACKGROUND

Policymakers in many countries promote collaboration between health care organizations and other sectors as a route to improving population health. Local collaborations have been developed for decades. Yet little is known about the impact of cross-sector collaboration on health and health equity.

METHODS

We carried out a systematic review of reviews to synthesize evidence on the health impacts of collaboration between local health care and non-health care organizations, and to understand the factors affecting how these partnerships functioned. We searched four databases and included 36 studies (reviews) in our review. We extracted data from these studies and used Nvivo 12 to help categorize the data. We assessed risk of bias in the studies using standardized tools. We used a narrative approach to synthesizing and reporting the data.

RESULTS

The 36 studies we reviewed included evidence on varying forms of collaboration in diverse contexts. Some studies included data on collaborations with broad population health goals, such as preventing disease and reducing health inequalities. Others focused on collaborations with a narrower focus, such as better integration between health care and social services. Overall, there is little convincing evidence to suggest that collaboration between local health care and non-health care organizations improves health outcomes. Evidence of impact on health services is mixed. And evidence of impact on resource use and spending are limited and mixed. Despite this, many studies report on factors associated with better or worse collaboration. We grouped these into five domains: motivation and purpose, relationships and cultures, resources and capabilities, governance and leadership, and external factors. But data linking factors in these domains to collaboration outcomes is sparse.

CONCLUSIONS

In theory, collaboration between local health care and non-health care organizations might contribute to better population health. But we know little about which kinds of collaborations work, for whom, and in what contexts. The benefits of collaboration may be hard to deliver, hard to measure, and overestimated by policymakers. Ultimately, local collaborations should be understood within their macro-level political and economic context, and as one component within a wider system of factors and interventions interacting to shape population health.

Bundled payments for chronic diseases increased health care expenditure in the Netherlands, especially for multimorbid patients

Bundled payments aim to stimulate the integration of healthcare services and ultimately reduce healthcare expenditure growth through improved quality of care. The Netherlands introduced bundled payments for chronic diseases in 2010 by reimbursing providers annually for a bundle of primary care services related to COPD, Diabetes, or Vascular Risk Management. We aimed to assess the long-term effects of these bundled payments on healthcare expenditure. We used health insurance claims data from 2008 to 2015 to compare the healthcare expenditure between everyone who was included in bundled payments and a control group. We performed a difference-in-difference analysis in combination with propensity score matching and found that bundled payments consistently increased health care expenditure over seven years. The average half-year increase was €233 (95%CI: 204-262) for DM2, €609 (95%CI: 533-686) for COPD, and €231 (95%CI: 208-254) for VRM, representing 13%, 52%, and 20% of 2008 half-year cost. The increase was higher for those with multimorbidity compared to those without multimorbidity. This suggests that the expectations of the bundled payments are yet to be fulfilled.