|
1
|
Westby M, Ijaz S, Savović J, McLeod H, Dawson S, Welsh T, Le Roux H, Walsh N, Bradley N. Virtual wards for people with frailty: what works, for whom, how and why-a rapid realist review. Age Ageing 2024; 53:afae039. [PMID: 38482985 PMCID: PMC10938537 DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afae039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Virtual wards (VWs) deliver multidisciplinary care at home to people with frailty who are at high risk of a crisis or in crisis, aiming to mitigate the risk of acute hospital admission. Different VW models exist, and evidence of effectiveness is inconsistent. AIM We conducted a rapid realist review to identify different VW models and to develop explanations for how and why VWs could deliver effective frailty management. METHODS We searched published and grey literature to identify evidence on multidisciplinary VWs. Information on how and why VWs might 'work' was extracted and synthesised into context-mechanism-outcome configurations with input from clinicians and patient/public contributors. RESULTS We included 17 peer-reviewed and 11 grey literature documents. VWs could be short-term and acute (1-21 days), or longer-term and preventative (typically 3-7 months). Effective VW operation requires common standards agreements, information sharing processes, an appropriate multidisciplinary team that plans patient care remotely, and good co-ordination. VWs may enable delivery of frailty interventions through appropriate selection of patients, comprehensive assessment including medication review, integrated case management and proactive care. Important components for patients and caregivers are good communication with the VW, their experience of care at home, and feeling involved, safe and empowered to manage their condition. CONCLUSIONS Insights gained from this review could inform implementation or evaluation of VWs for frailty. A combination of acute and longer-term VWs may be needed within a whole system approach. Proactive care is recommended to avoid frailty-related crises.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maggie Westby
- The National Institute for Health and Care Research, Applied Research Collaboration West (NIHR ARC West), University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol BS1 2NT, UK
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK
| | - Sharea Ijaz
- The National Institute for Health and Care Research, Applied Research Collaboration West (NIHR ARC West), University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol BS1 2NT, UK
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK
| | - Jelena Savović
- The National Institute for Health and Care Research, Applied Research Collaboration West (NIHR ARC West), University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol BS1 2NT, UK
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK
| | - Hugh McLeod
- The National Institute for Health and Care Research, Applied Research Collaboration West (NIHR ARC West), University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol BS1 2NT, UK
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK
| | - Sarah Dawson
- The National Institute for Health and Care Research, Applied Research Collaboration West (NIHR ARC West), University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol BS1 2NT, UK
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK
| | - Tomas Welsh
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK
- RICE – The Research Institute for the Care of Older People, Bath, UK
- Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Bath, UK
| | - Hein Le Roux
- Churchdown Surgery, Parton Rd, Churchdown, Gloucester GL3 2JH, UK
- NHS England and NHS Improvement South West, Somerset, UK
- One Gloucestershire Integrated Care System Quality Improvement, Gloucester, UK
| | - Nicola Walsh
- The National Institute for Health and Care Research, Applied Research Collaboration West (NIHR ARC West), University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol BS1 2NT, UK
- Centre for Health & Clinical Research, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1DD, UK
| | - Natasha Bradley
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queens University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, UK
| |
Collapse
|
|
2
|
Eines TF, Storm M, Grønvik CKU. Interprofessional collaboration in a community virtual ward: A focus group study. Scand J Caring Sci 2023; 37:677-686. [PMID: 36710599 DOI: 10.1111/scs.13152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The problem of a lack of nurses is expected to worsen in the future. With an ever-increasing number of elderly patients with multimorbidity and a shortage of healthcare professionals, primary care must innovatively organise their services to offer more sustainable healthcare services. Organising healthcare services in a community virtual ward has been found to improve the quality of life for vulnerable elderly populations. AIM The aim of the study was to explore healthcare professionals' experiences of interprofessional collaboration in care for patients with multimorbidity in a community virtual ward in the Norwegian context. METHODS Focus group interviews were conducted in this qualitative exploratory study. A purposive sample of 17 healthcare professionals working in a community virtual ward in Norway was interviewed. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS The study results show that healthcare professionals recognise a need for patient involvement in the community virtual ward to offer more sustainable healthcare services at home. Furthermore, the results show how healthcare professionals experience the use of assessment tools and whiteboard meetings as useful tools for facilitating interprofessional collaboration. The study results also describe how interprofessional and holistic follow-up with patients with multimorbidity contributes to increased focus on health promotion in the community virtual ward. CONCLUSION We found that interprofessional collaboration in community virtual wards may be a sustainable way of organising healthcare services for patients with multimorbidity living at home. Interprofessional collaboration with a patient-centred and health promotion approach, seems to increase the quality of the follow-up for patients with multimorbidity living at home. Additionally, mutual interprofessional trust and respect seems to be essential for making use of the unique expertise of different professions in the follow-up for patients with multimorbidity. In the future, both the patient's voice and opinion of their next of kin should be considered in the development of more sustainable homecare services.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Marianne Storm
- Molde University College, Molde, Norway
- Stavanger University, Stavanger, Norway
| | | |
Collapse
|
|
3
|
Lewis C, O’Caoimh R, Patton D, O’Connor T, Moore Z, Nugent LE. Utilisation of a Suite of Screening Tools to Determine Adverse Healthcare Outcomes in an Older Frail Population Admitted to a Community Virtual Ward. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:5601. [PMID: 34073916 PMCID: PMC8197352 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18115601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Risk stratification to assess healthcare outcomes among older people is challenging due to the interplay of multiple syndromes and conditions. Different short risk-screening tools can assist but the most useful instruments to predict responses and outcomes following interventions are unknown. We examined the relationship between a suite of screening tools and risk of adverse outcomes (pre-determined clinical 'decline' i.e., becoming 'unstable' or 'deteriorating' at 60-90 days, and institutionalisation, hospitalisation and death at 120 days), among community dwellers (n = 88) after admission to a single-centre, Irish, Community Virtual Ward (CVW). The mean age of patients was 82.8 (±6.4) years. Most were severely frail, with mean Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) scores of 6.8 ± 1.33. Several instruments were useful in predicting 'decline' and other healthcare outcomes. After adjustment for age and gender, higher frailty levels, odds ratio (OR) 3.29, (p = 0.002), impaired cognition (Mini Mental State Examination; OR 4.23, p < 0.001), lower mobility (modified FIM) (OR 3.08, p < 0.001) and reduced functional level (Barthel Index; OR 6.39, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with clinical 'decline' at 90 days. Prolonged (>30 s) TUG times (OR 1.27, p = 0.023) and higher CFS scores (OR 2.29, p = 0.045) were associated with institutionalisation. Only TUG scores were associated with hospitalisation and only CFS, MMSE and Barthel scores at baseline were associated with mortality. Utilisation of a multidimensional suite of risk-screening tools across a range of domains measuring frailty, mobility and cognition can help predict clinical 'decline' for an already frail older population. Their association with other outcomes was less useful. A better understanding of the utility of these instruments in vulnerable populations will provide a framework to inform the impact of interventions and assist in decision-making and anticipatory care planning for older patients in CVW models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clare Lewis
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, 123 St Stephen’s Green, Saint Peter’s, D02 YN77 Dublin, Ireland; (D.P.); (T.O.); (Z.M.); (L.E.N.)
| | - Rónán O’Caoimh
- Clinical Sciences Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, Costello Road, H91 TK33 Galway City, Ireland;
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Mercy University Hospital, Grenville Place, T12 WE28 Cork City, Ireland
| | - Declan Patton
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, 123 St Stephen’s Green, Saint Peter’s, D02 YN77 Dublin, Ireland; (D.P.); (T.O.); (Z.M.); (L.E.N.)
| | - Tom O’Connor
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, 123 St Stephen’s Green, Saint Peter’s, D02 YN77 Dublin, Ireland; (D.P.); (T.O.); (Z.M.); (L.E.N.)
| | - Zena Moore
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, 123 St Stephen’s Green, Saint Peter’s, D02 YN77 Dublin, Ireland; (D.P.); (T.O.); (Z.M.); (L.E.N.)
| | - Linda E. Nugent
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, 123 St Stephen’s Green, Saint Peter’s, D02 YN77 Dublin, Ireland; (D.P.); (T.O.); (Z.M.); (L.E.N.)
| |
Collapse
|