Integrated Care Model Research Articles

Models of integrated care for older people with frailty: a horizon scanning review

ObjectivesFrailty, a multifaceted geriatric condition, is an emerging global health problem. Integrated care models designed to meet the complex needs of the older people with frailty are required. Early identification...

Experiences of recovery and posthospital care needs of working-age adults after physical trauma: a qualitative focus group study

ObjectiveTo explore experiences of recovery after physical trauma and identify long-term needs for posthospital care.Design, participants and settingA qualitative study was conducted consisting of seven online focus groups among working-age...

An on-site community-based model for hepatitis C screening, diagnosis, and treatment among people who inject drugs in Kerman, Iran: The Rostam study.

People who inject drugs (PWID) are at high risk for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and its complications in many countries, including Iran. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the effect of a community-based HCV model of care on HCV testing and treatment initiation among PWID in Kerman, Iran. This study is part of the Rostam study and is a non-randomized trial evaluating the effect of on-site HCV- antibody rapid testing, venipuncture for HCV RNA testing, and treatment eligibility assessment on HCV testing and treatment initiation among PWID. Recruitment, interviews, and HCV screening, diagnosis, and treatment were all conducted at a community-based drop-in center (DIC) serving PWID clients. A total of 171 PWID (median age of 39 years and 89.5% male) were recruited between July 2018 and May 2019. Of 62 individuals who were HCV antibody positive, 47 (75.8%) were HCV RNA positive. Of RNA-positive individuals, 36 (76.6%) returned for treatment eligibility assessment. Of all the 36 participants eligible for treatment, 34 (94.4%) initiated HCV antiviral therapy. A sustained virologic response at 12 weeks post-treatment was 76.5% (26/34) in the intention-to-treat (ITT group) analysis and 100% (23/23) in the per-protocol (PP group) analysis. Our integrated on-site community-based HCV care model within a DIC setting suggested that HCV care including HCV testing and treatment uptake can be successfully delivered outside of hospitals or specialized clinics; a model which is more likely to reach PWID and can provide significant progress towards HCV elimination among this population.

198 A Team-based Approach to an Integrated Model of Diabetes Care

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Diabetes is related to risk for heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and COVID-19. It is exacerbated by built/social environment issues, e.g., food insecurity, access to healthy foods and health care, and other poverty-related factors. Our goal is to assess the efficacy of an integrated care model for patients with poorly controlled diabetes. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We utilize an integrated, team-based approach to diabetes treatment. In a traditional care model, too little focus is on social determinants and their impacts on health and well-being. Our project involves enrollment of patients with diabetes in an intervention whereby their medical care is integrated with intensive diabetes education and provision of social and other health services, including diet and nutrition, exercise, provision of foods and nutritional supplements, and other support services as needed to achieve optimal health and to reduce morbidity and unnecessary hospitalization and emergency room visits. Subjects are underserved patients treated through our non-profit community clinic partners. We track metrics including individual outcomes, organizational outcomes, and collective impact. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: We anticipate that patients enrolled in this study will demonstrate significant improvements in diabetes control and management. Clinical improvements will include better glycemic control, improved hypertension and dyslipidemia management, reduced complications, and increased preventive measures including foot, eye and oral health exams and monitoring of microalbuminuria. Overall, we anticipate decreased frequency of hospitalizations and readmissions as well as decreased frequency of emergency care visits for treatment of diabetes-related issues. We expect patients to experience enhanced self-efficacy, increased physical activity, and improved quality of life. Their outcomes will be compared to controls receiving the standard medical regimen, matched on age, race, gender, and time of onset. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: These activities will improve understanding of factors influencing diabetes outcomes at individual and upstream levels. It will inform food distribution and models of care for improved patient outcomes, including social determinants of health and will establish new protocols for community-based provision of health care to our most vulnerable.

A framework to support the progressive implementation of integrated team-based care for the management of COPD: a collective case study

BackgroundIn Canada, there is widespread agreement about the need for integrated models of team-based care. However, there is less agreement on how to support the scale-up and spread of successful models, and there is limited empirical evidence to support this process in chronic disease management. We studied the supporting and mitigating factors required to successfully implement and scale-up an integrated model of team-based care in primary care.MethodsWe conducted a collective case study using multiple methods of data collection including interviews, document analysis, living documents, and a focus group. Our study explored a team-based model of care for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) known as Best Care COPD (BCC) that has been implemented in primary care settings across Southwestern Ontario. BCC is a quality improvement initiative that was developed to enhance the quality of care for patients with COPD. Participants included healthcare providers involved in the delivery of the BCC program.ResultsWe identified several mechanisms influencing the scale-up and spread of BCC and categorized them as Foundational (e.g., evidence-based program, readiness to implement, peer-led implementation team), Transformative (adaptive process, empowerment and collaboration, embedded evaluation), and Enabling Mechanisms (provider training, administrative support, role clarity, patient outcomes). Based on these results, we developed a framework to inform the progressive implementation of integrated, team-based care for chronic disease management. Our framework builds off our empirical work and is framed by local contextual factors.ConclusionsThis study explores the implementation and spread of integrated team-based care in a primary care setting. Despite the study’s focus on COPD, we believe the findings can be applied in other chronic disease contexts. We provide a framework to support the progressive implementation of integrated team-based care for chronic disease management.

The impact of an integrated care intervention on mortality and unplanned hospital admissions in a disadvantaged community in England: A difference-in-differences study

BackgroundMany health systems are experimenting with integrated care models to improve outcomes and reduce healthcare demand. Evidence for effects on health service utilisation is variable, with few studies investigating impacts on mortality or differences by socioeconomic group. ObjectiveTo examine the impact of a multidisciplinary, integrated care team intervention on emergency admissions and mortality, and whether effects differed by deprivation group. DesignA longitudinal matched controlled study using difference-in-differences analysis comparing the change in unplanned emergency admissions twelve months before and after the intervention, and inverse probability of treatment-weighted survival analysis comparing mortality, between intervention and matched control groups. SettingA relatively deprived city in England, U.K. InterventionA case-management integrated care programme delivered through multidisciplinary teams and aimed at complex needs and/or high hospitalisation risk patients. ResultsThe intervention was associated with a small increase in emergency admissions of 15 per 1,000 patients per month (95% CI 5 to 24, p = 0.003) after the intervention relative to the control group and no significant change in survival between intervention and control groups (HR 0.9, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.13, p = 0.7). Effects were similar across age and deprivation groups. ConclusionsIt is unlikely that similar interventions lead to reduced emergency admissions or increased survival. Further studies should use experimental methods and assess impacts on quality of life.

The Effectiveness of the Integrated Care Model among Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Depression: A Quasi-Randomized Controlled Trial.

Depression is the second-leading cause of disability among older patients worldwide. This study examined the effectiveness of the Integrated Care Model (ICM) intervention in decreasing depression, suicide ideation, and psychological symptoms and improving life satisfaction among old patients with depression living in communities. The participants were allocated to either the intervention (n = 67) or control group (n = 76) from July 2018 to November 2018. All participants received the usual geriatric care for three months in eastern Taiwan. Additionally, participants in the intervention group were treated according to the ICM, including the assessment and management of health problems, improvements in spiritual and mental wellbeing, helping with activities of daily life and mobility, providing social welfare resources, and prevention of elder abuse. The patients in the experimental group showed significant improvement in the group-by-time effect on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, the Brief Symptom Rating Scale, suicide ideation measures, and the Life Satisfaction Index over 18 weeks. The ICM should be included in routine geriatric care and adopted in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and communities

Current management of adults receiving oral anti-cancer medications: A scoping review protocol

Oncology has been undergoing a profound transition in the last ten years with the increased usage in oral anti-cancer medication. Approximately 25% of all anti-cancer medication is now designed for oral use and this is likely to increase prospectively. These treatments are convenient for patients and are often preferred by them, yet there are similar safety and toxicity concerns as there are to intravenous treatment. Oral anti-cancer medications (OAMs) have the potential to alleviate capacity issues in cancer treating units as patients receive their treatment at home, however there remains a requirement for safe and efficient assessment and care. Consequently, the management of patients on OAMs is of paramount importance. The optimum setting, whether within primary or secondary care, in addition to the appropriate health care professional to carry out patient assessment and monitoring needs to be established. This paper presents a protocol for a scoping review which aims to systematically and comprehensively map the literature on the current management of adults receiving OAMs. The review will follow the published guidance to direct the various steps involved. The protocol will be guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) framework to ensure methodological and reporting quality. Independent full text review will be performed by two reviewers and any disagreements resolved through discussion with a third reviewer. The process will be iterative in nature. This scoping review will provide a narrative synthesis and map the literature on the management of individuals receiving OAMs. This work is an appropriate initial stage in presenting the literature to inform the subsequent steps in a multi-phased research study which aims to establish and analyse the safety and efficacy of an integrated care model for the management of patients receiving OAM in the community by an advanced practitioner.

An integrated approach to providing care for people who have been trafficked.

People who have been trafficked often have complex medical and psychiatric needs. Integrated care is a treatment approach that may be used to improve the care of this population. The authors describe the integrated care model and how it may be applied to this population. They also describe some of the benefits and challenges of using an integrated care model with this population.

Effect of socioeconomic status on survival in patients on the Diabetes Shared Care Program: Finding from a Taiwan nationwide cohort.

The Diabetes Shared Care Program (DSCP) is an integrated care model in Taiwan to improve the care quality of patients with diabetes. Socioeconomic status (SES) is one of the important factors affecting health, and it is confirmed as a predictor of various diseases and deaths.This study aimed to determine the relationship between survival rate and SES among patients who participated in the DSCP. A cohort population-based study was conducted using the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan from 2008 to 2013. The study subjects were type 2 diabetes. We defined individual SES and neighborhood SES by each patient's job category and household income, which were characterized as advantaged or disadvantaged. Then we compared the survival rates of SES groups by Cox proportional hazards model to adjust risk factors. This study included 16 614 patients with type 2 diabetes who participated in the DSCP program. The DSCP cohort showed a high hospitalization rate in low individual SES. In terms of 10-year overall survival, DSCP participants with high individual SES living in advantaged and disadvantaged neighborhoods had lower risk of mortality than those with low SES living in advantaged and disadvantaged neighborhoods, after adjustment for age and comorbidity. DSCP participants with low individual SES living in disadvantaged neighborhoods had no significant difference of mortality as those with low individual SES living in advantaged neighborhoods. In this study, we found that low individual SES, but not neighborhood SES, was associated with an increased mortality rate among DSCP participants.

Unmet Needs of Individuals With Acute Traumatic Eye Injury

Introduction: Although traumatic eye injuries can have a far-reaching impact on an individual and society, traumatic eye injury has not been a focus of research. The purpose of this study is to examine individuals’ experiences after traumatic vision loss and identify their needs. Methods: We used a qualitative approach to conduct semi-structured interviews with individuals who experienced traumatic vision loss and were treated at a specialty eye hospital in an urban setting. Participants also completed a demographic survey and the National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire–25 (VFQ-25). Content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data and descriptive statistics were used to summarize quantitative data. Results: Interviews with 26 participants resulted in three categories of patient needs: informational, functional, and psychosocial. Participants wanted more information from providers about what to expect over time and identified driving as a significant challenge that affected their daily lives. Participants offered suggestions for addressing their functional needs including assistance with transportation to appointments, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. Participants also discussed how vision loss affected their livelihood and finances, with a subset of participants experiencing significant mental health distress. Some participants suggested that a recovery coach, peer support, support groups, and mental health services would be beneficial for addressing their psychosocial needs. Discussion: Our findings point to a significant gap in services available to meet the needs of individuals with traumatic eye injuries. Future research is needed to test the effect of an integrated-care model that includes routine offering of psychosocial and functional services for patients with acute vision loss to determine the effect on outcomes. Implications for Practitioners: This work has far-reaching implications for providers, since it supports the need for the development and delivery of integrated interventions that emphasize addressing psychosocial and functional aspects of recovery.

Assessing the effect of a regional integrated care model over ten years using quality indicators based on claims data \u2013 the basic statistical methodology of the INTEGRAL project

BackgroundThe regional integrated health care model “Healthy Kinzigtal” started in 2006 with the goal of optimizing health care and economic efficiency. The INTEGRAL project aimed at evaluating the effect of this model on the quality of care over the first 10 years.MethodsThis methodological protocol supplements the study protocol and the main publication of the project. Comparing quality indicators based on claims data between the intervention region and 13 structurally similar control regions constitutes the basic scientific approach. Methodological key issues in performing such a comparison are identified and solutions are presented.ResultsA key step in the analysis is the assessment of a potential trend in prevalence for a single quality indicator over time in the intervention region compared to the corresponding trends in the control regions. This step has to take into account that there may be a common - not necessarily linear - trend in the indicator over time and that trends can also appear by chance. Conceptual and statistical approaches were developed to handle this key step and to assess in addition the overall evidence for an intervention effect across all indicators. The methodology can be extended in several directions of interest.ConclusionsWe believe that our approach can handle the major statistical challenges: population differences are addressed by standardization; we offer transparency with respect to the derivation of the key figures; global time trends and structural changes do not invalidate the analyses; the regional variation in time trends is taken into account. Overall, the project demanded substantial efforts to ensure adequateness, validity and transparency.

Barriers and facilitators to adopting horizon scanning to identify novel integrated care models: a qualitative interview study

ObjectivesHorizon scanning methodologies are employed in healthcare to identify and prioritise innovations at the early stages of development processes. To date, horizon scanning has been predominantly applied to early awareness...

Current management of adults receiving oral anti-cancer medications: A scoping review protocol.

Oncology has been undergoing a profound transition in the last ten years with the increased usage in oral anti-cancer medication. Approximately 25% of all anti-cancer medication is now designed for oral use and this is likely to increase prospectively. These treatments are convenient for patients and are often preferred by them, yet there are similar safety and toxicity concerns as there are to intravenous treatment. Oral anti-cancer medications (OAMs) have the potential to alleviate capacity issues in cancer treating units as patients receive their treatment at home, however there remains a requirement for safe and efficient assessment and care. Consequently, the management of patients on OAMs is of paramount importance.The optimum setting, whether within primary or secondary care, in addition to the appropriate health care professional to carry out patient assessment and monitoring needs to be established. This paper presents a protocol for a scoping review which aims to systematically and comprehensively map the literature on the current management of adults receiving OAMs. The review will follow the published guidance to direct the various steps involved. The protocol will be guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) framework to ensure methodological and reporting quality.Independent full text review will be performed by two reviewers and any disagreements resolved through discussion with a third reviewer. The process will be iterativein nature. This scoping review will provide a narrative synthesis and map theliterature on the management of individuals receiving OAMs.This work is an appropriate initial stage in presenting the literature to inform the subsequent steps in a multi-phased research study which aims to establish and analyse the safety and efficacy of an integrated care model for themanagement of patients receiving OAM in the community by an advanced practitioner.

Better understanding care transitions of adults with complex health and social care needs: a study protocol

BackgroundAdults with chronic conditions who also suffer from mental health comorbidities and/or social vulnerability require services from many providers across different sectors. They may have complex health and social care needs and experience poorer health indicators and high mortality rates while generating considerable costs to the health and social services system. In response, the literature has stressed the need for a collaborative approach amongst providers to facilitate the care transition process. A better understanding of care transitions is the next step towards the improvement of integrated care models. The aim of the study is to better understand care transitions of adults with complex health and social care needs across community, primary care, and hospital settings, combining the experiences of patients and their families, providers, and health managers.Methods/designWe will conduct a two-phase mixed methods multiple case study (quantitative and qualitative). We will work with six cases in three Canadian provinces, each case being the actual care transitions across community, primary care, and hospital settings. Adult patients with complex needs will be identified by having visited the emergency department at least three times over the previous 12 months. To ensure they have complex needs, they will be invited to complete INTERMED Self-Assessment and invited to enroll if positive. For the quantitative phase, data will be obtained through questionnaires and multi-level regression analyses will be conducted. For the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews and focus groups will be conducted with patients, family members, care providers, and managers, and thematic analysis will be performed. Quantitative and qualitative results will be compared and then merged.DiscussionThis study is one of the first to examine care transitions of adults with complex needs by adopting a comprehensive vision of care transitions and bringing together the experiences of patients and family members, providers, and health managers. By using an integrated knowledge translation approach with key knowledge users, the study’s findings have the potential to inform the optimization of integrated care, to positively impact the health of adults with complex needs, and reduce the economic burden to the health and social care systems.

The patient experience of telehealth access and clinical encounters in Australian health care during COVID-19: implications for enhancing integrated care

PurposeTelehealth consultations are likely to continue while living with COVID-19 and the risk of other pandemics. Greater understanding of patient perceptions is important in order to inform future integrated care models involving telehealth.Design/methodology/approachAn interpretative qualitative study. Fifteen, in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with diverse range of community dwelling patients who attended outpatient clinics at The John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle. Data were analysed using an inductive thematic approach.FindingsKey themes were identified: (1) telehealth is valuable in a pandemic; (2) telehealth accessibility can be challenging; (3) there are variations in care experiences, especially when visual feedback is lacking; (4) telehealth for acute and complex care needs may lead to gaps and (5) considerations towards the future of telehealth, beyond a pandemic.Research limitations/implicationsThere is a shortfall in evidence of the patient experience of integrated care within a telehealth framework. The results provided practical insights into how telehealth services can play a greater role in integrated care.Practical implicationsApart from the need for affordable access to high-speed data for basic Internet access, the author posit the need for patient and clinician training towards promoting communication that is underpinned by choice, trust and shared decision-making.Originality/valueTelehealth is important towards keeping patients safe during COVID-19. Key findings extend knowledge of the practical implications need to promote integrated telehealth systems. While there is a benefit in extending telehealth to more preventative activities, there is also a need for greater service coordination and sharing of information between treating clinicians. Overall the results highlight telehealth consultations to be an effective means of treating well-known conditions and for follow-up rather than for acute conditions.

Cohort study of team-based care among marginalized people who use drugs in Ottawa.

To describe team-based care use among a cohort of people who use drugs (PWUD) and to determine factors associated with receipt of team-based care. A cohort study using survey data collected between March and December 2013. These data were then linked to provincial-level health administrative databases to assess patterns of primary care among PWUD in the 2 years before survey completion. Ottawa, Ont. Marginalized PWUD 16 years of age or older. Patients were assigned to primary care models based on survey responses and then were categorized as attached to team-based medical homes, attached to non-team-based medical homes, not attached to a medical home, and no primary care. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression were used to determine associations between PWUD and medical home models. Of 663 total participants, only 162 (24.4%) received team-based care, which was associated with high school level of education (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.18; 95% CI 1.13 to 4.20), receipt of disability benefits (AOR = 2.47; 95% CI 1.22 to 5.02), and HIV infection (AOR = 2.88; 95% CI 1.28 to 6.52), and was inversely associated with recent overdose (AOR = 0.49; 95% CI 0.25 to 0.94). In comparison, 125 (18.8%) received non-team-based medical care, which was associated with university or college education (AOR = 2.31; 95% CI 1.04 to 5.15) and mental health comorbidity (AOR = 4.18; 95% CI 2.33 to 7.50), and was inversely associated with being detained in jail in the previous 12 months (AOR = 0.51; 95% CI 0.28 to 0.90). Although team-based, integrated models of care will benefit disadvantaged groups the most, few PWUD receive such care. Policy makers should mitigate barriers to physician care and improve integration across health and social services.

Integration and Promotion of a Care Model for Chewing and Swallowing Reconstruction Teams

Eating with the mouth is one of the basic joys of life. However, some 450,000 people currently live with nasogastric tubes in Taiwan. The causes of dysphagia disorders are complicated. Caring effectively for these cases requires interdisciplinary medical cooperation. Taiwan is expected to become a super-aged society in 2025. In Taiwan, people over 65 years old, residents of long-term care institutions, and stroke cases experience high rates of dysphagia. Every case of dysphagia has a potential risk of aspiration pneumonia, with pneumonia ranking as the third leading cause of death in people over 65 years old. Therefore, this issue demands the attention and assistance of medical care personnel. The integrated care model used at Kaohsiung Siaogang Hospital to promote the reconstruction of dysphagia functions is introduced in this article to help give medical teams interested in assisting cases a deeper understanding of this model. Integrating the resources and manpower of multiple disciplines helps cases improve dysphagia functions and reduces the need for indwelling nasogastric tubes and the incidence of aspiration pneumonia. Let us protect the everyday happiness of eating and improve quality of life.

Implementation of child mental health service improvement plans in four low- and middle-income countries: stakeholders’ perspectives

ABSTRACT Children in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) have high levels of unmet mental health needs, especially in disadvantaged communities. To address this gap, we developed a child mental health service improvement programme. This was co-facilitated using interprofessional principles and values in four countries, South Africa, Kenya, Turkey and Brazil. Eighteen stakeholders from different professions were interviewed after six months on their perspectives on enabling factors and challenges they faced in implementing service plans. Participants valued the holistic case management approach and scaled service model that underpinned the service plans. Emerging themes on participants’ priorities related to service user participation, integrated care, and different levels of capacity-building. We propose that an integrated care model in LMIC contexts can maximize available resources, engage families and mobilize communities. Implementation requires concurrent actions at micro-, meso- and macro-level.

Implementation outcomes from a pilot of "Access to Tailored Autism Integrated Care" for children with autism and mental health needs.

Children with autism frequently experience co-occurring mental health needs. The "Access to Tailored Autism Integrated Care (ATTAIN)" model was co-created with caregivers, pediatric providers, and health care leaders to identify mental health needs and link to mental health care for autistic children. This article describes outcomes from a pilot study of Access to Tailored Autism Integrated Care with 36 pediatric primary care providers from seven clinics within three healthcare systems. Providers participated in an initial Access to Tailored Autism Integrated Care training and received ongoing online support over 4 months with autistic patients ages 4-16 years old. Survey and interview assessments measured provider perceptions of feasibility, acceptability, and intentions to continue using Access to Tailored Autism Integrated Care after the pilot. Providers reported that Access to Tailored Autism Integrated Care was feasible, acceptable, that the initial training was helpful in their implementation but that more specific and tailored implementation support was needed. Results show that Access to Tailored Autism Integrated Care is a promising model to support mental health screening and linkage for children with autism in primary care. Findings provide information on specific areas of the Access to Tailored Autism Integrated Care model that could be benefit from additional refinement to support more widespread use in primary care settings.