Needs and availability of medical specialists’ and allied health professionals’ visits in German nursing homes: a cross-sectional study of nursing home staff

Abstract Background The medical care for nursing home residents is estimated to be partly inadequate in Germany. The aim of this study is to investigate the needs and utilization of general practitioners (GPs), medical specialists and allied health professionals. Methods A survey was sent to a natio...

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Main Authors: Ann-Kristin Schröder, Alexander Maximilian Fassmer, Katharina Allers, Falk Hoffmann
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2020-04-01
Series:BMC Health Services Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-020-05169-7
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author Ann-Kristin Schröder
Alexander Maximilian Fassmer
Katharina Allers
Falk Hoffmann
author_facet Ann-Kristin Schröder
Alexander Maximilian Fassmer
Katharina Allers
Falk Hoffmann
author_sort Ann-Kristin Schröder
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The medical care for nursing home residents is estimated to be partly inadequate in Germany. The aim of this study is to investigate the needs and utilization of general practitioners (GPs), medical specialists and allied health professionals. Methods A survey was sent to a nationwide random sample of 1069 nursing homes in Germany in January 2019. Nursing staff managers were asked about medical care. Regular nursing home visits by medical specialists and allied health professionals were defined as at least one contact per year to at least one nursing home resident. Results A total of 486 persons responded (45.5%). On average, nursing homes have contact to 8.6 (interquartile range: 4–10) different GPs. Almost 70% of respondents agreed that residents’ medical care should be coordinated by GPs. However, only 46.0% stated that specialist treatment should require GP referral. A high need was seen for care from physiotherapists (91.0%), neurologists or psychiatrists (89.3%), dentists (73.7%), and urologists (71.3%). Regarding the actual utilization of medical specialists and health professionals, most nursing homes have regular contact to physiotherapists (97.1%), psychiatrists or neurologists (90.4%), speech therapists (85.0%), and dentists (84.8%). Remarkable discrepancies between need and utilization were found for urologists and ophthalmologists. Conclusion There is large variance in the number of GPs per nursing home, and needs for medical specialists, especially urologists and ophthalmologists, seem unmet. Interprofessional collaboration between GPs, medical specialists and allied health professionals should be improved, and GPs should play a more coordinating role.
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spelling doaj.art-425900fb951b4212a584e53ae51021e42022-12-21T22:18:07ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632020-04-012011810.1186/s12913-020-05169-7Needs and availability of medical specialists’ and allied health professionals’ visits in German nursing homes: a cross-sectional study of nursing home staffAnn-Kristin Schröder0Alexander Maximilian Fassmer1Katharina Allers2Falk Hoffmann3Department of Health Services Research, School VI - Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of OldenburgDepartment of Health Services Research, School VI - Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of OldenburgDepartment of Health Services Research, School VI - Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of OldenburgDepartment of Health Services Research, School VI - Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of OldenburgAbstract Background The medical care for nursing home residents is estimated to be partly inadequate in Germany. The aim of this study is to investigate the needs and utilization of general practitioners (GPs), medical specialists and allied health professionals. Methods A survey was sent to a nationwide random sample of 1069 nursing homes in Germany in January 2019. Nursing staff managers were asked about medical care. Regular nursing home visits by medical specialists and allied health professionals were defined as at least one contact per year to at least one nursing home resident. Results A total of 486 persons responded (45.5%). On average, nursing homes have contact to 8.6 (interquartile range: 4–10) different GPs. Almost 70% of respondents agreed that residents’ medical care should be coordinated by GPs. However, only 46.0% stated that specialist treatment should require GP referral. A high need was seen for care from physiotherapists (91.0%), neurologists or psychiatrists (89.3%), dentists (73.7%), and urologists (71.3%). Regarding the actual utilization of medical specialists and health professionals, most nursing homes have regular contact to physiotherapists (97.1%), psychiatrists or neurologists (90.4%), speech therapists (85.0%), and dentists (84.8%). Remarkable discrepancies between need and utilization were found for urologists and ophthalmologists. Conclusion There is large variance in the number of GPs per nursing home, and needs for medical specialists, especially urologists and ophthalmologists, seem unmet. Interprofessional collaboration between GPs, medical specialists and allied health professionals should be improved, and GPs should play a more coordinating role.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-020-05169-7Nursing homesMedical specialistsAllied health professionalsNeedsSurvey
spellingShingle Ann-Kristin Schröder
Alexander Maximilian Fassmer
Katharina Allers
Falk Hoffmann
Needs and availability of medical specialists’ and allied health professionals’ visits in German nursing homes: a cross-sectional study of nursing home staff
BMC Health Services Research
Nursing homes
Medical specialists
Allied health professionals
Needs
Survey
title Needs and availability of medical specialists’ and allied health professionals’ visits in German nursing homes: a cross-sectional study of nursing home staff
title_full Needs and availability of medical specialists’ and allied health professionals’ visits in German nursing homes: a cross-sectional study of nursing home staff
title_fullStr Needs and availability of medical specialists’ and allied health professionals’ visits in German nursing homes: a cross-sectional study of nursing home staff
title_full_unstemmed Needs and availability of medical specialists’ and allied health professionals’ visits in German nursing homes: a cross-sectional study of nursing home staff
title_short Needs and availability of medical specialists’ and allied health professionals’ visits in German nursing homes: a cross-sectional study of nursing home staff
title_sort needs and availability of medical specialists and allied health professionals visits in german nursing homes a cross sectional study of nursing home staff
topic Nursing homes
Medical specialists
Allied health professionals
Needs
Survey
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-020-05169-7
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