Browsing by Subject "Patient Transfer"

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    The experiences of family members in the nursing home to hospital transfer decision
    (Springer (Biomed Central Ltd.), 2016-11-15) Abrahamson, Kathleen; Bernard, Brittany; Magnabosco, Lara; Nazir, Arif; Unroe, Kathleen T.; Department of Medicine, School of Medicine
    BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to better understand the experiences of family members in the nursing home to hospital transfer decision making process. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 family members who had recently been involved in a nursing home to hospital transfer decision. RESULTS: Family members perceived themselves to play an advocacy role in their resident's care and interview themes clustered within three over-arching categories: Family perception of the nursing home's capacity to provide medical care: Resident and family choices; and issues at 'hand-off' and the hospital. Multiple sub-themes were also identified. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study contribute to knowledge surrounding the nursing home transfer decision by illuminating the experiences of family members in the transfer decision process.
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    Strategies to Improve Care Transitions between Nursing Homes and Emergency Departments
    (Elsevier, 2011-10) Terrell, Kevin M.; Miller, Douglas K.; Department of Medicine, IU School of Medicine
    OBJECTIVE To identify testable solutions that may improve the quality and safety of care transitions between nursing homes (NHs) and emergency departments (EDs). DESIGN Structured focus group interviews. SETTING Group interviews took place in Indianapolis, Indiana. PARTICIPANTS NH administrators, nurses, and physicians; emergency medical services (EMS) directors, paramedics, and emergency medicine technicians (EMTs); ED nurses and physicians; and a representative from the Indiana State Department of Health. MEASUREMENTS Opinions, perceptions, and insights of participants. RESULTS 18 participants were included. The central theme was the need for additional structure to support care transitions between NHs and EDs. Participants agreed that the structure afforded by hospital-to-hospital transfers would benefit patients and providers during transitions between NHs and EDs. Because transfer forms currently vary from NH to NH, participants recommended that the entire state use the same form. They recommended that the transfer form be useful in both directions by including a section for the ED provider to complete to support the ED-to-NH transition. Participants suggested that systems use a transfer checklist to help ensure that all processes occur as expected. They strongly recommended verbal communication across care settings to complement written communication and to improve on deficiencies that occur with transfer form-only strategies. Notably, participants suggested that the different care sites engage in relationship-building efforts to improve compliance with recommendations (e.g., form completion) and collaborative problem solving. CONCLUSION Participants advised additional structure to NH-ED care transitions, similar to hospital-to-hospital transfers, that includes a 2-way, statewide transfer form; a checklist; and verbal communication.