Breakdown in informational continuity of care during hospitalization of older home-living patients: A case study
<strong>Introduction: </strong>The successful transfer of an older patient between health care organizations requires open communication between them that details relevant and necessary information about the patient's health status and individual needs. The objective of this study w...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Ubiquity Press
2014-05-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Integrated Care |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.ijic.org/articles/1525 |
| _version_ | 1818365448291352576 |
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| author | Rose Mari Olsen Ove Hellzén Liv Heidi Skotnes Ingela Enmarker |
| author_facet | Rose Mari Olsen Ove Hellzén Liv Heidi Skotnes Ingela Enmarker |
| author_sort | Rose Mari Olsen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <strong>Introduction: </strong>The successful transfer of an older patient between health care organizations requires open communication between them that details relevant and necessary information about the patient's health status and individual needs. The objective of this study was to identify and describe the process and content of the patient information exchange between nurses in home care and hospital during hospitalization of older home-living patients.<strong>Methods: </strong>A multiple case study design was used. Using observations, qualitative interviews and document reviews, the total patient information exchange during each patient's episode of hospitalization (<span class="italic">n</span> = 9), from day of admission to return home, was captured. <strong>Results: </strong>Information exchange mainly occurred at discharge, including a discharge note sent from hospital to home care, and telephone reports from hospital nurse to home care nurse, and meetings between hospital nurse and patient coordinator from the municipal purchaser unit. No information was provided from the home care nurses to the hospital nurses at admission. Incompleteness in the content of both written and verbal information was found. Information regarding physical care was more frequently reported than other caring dimensions. Descriptions of the patients’ subjective experiences were almost absent and occurred only in the verbal communication. <strong>Conclusions: </strong>The gap in the information flow, as well as incompleteness in the content of written and verbal information exchanged, constitutes a challenge to the continuity of care for hospitalized home-living patients. In order to ensure appropriate nursing follow-up care, we emphasize the need for nurses to improve the information flow, as well as to use a more comprehensive approach to older patients, and that this must be reflected in the verbal and written information exchange. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T22:20:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8356c7cb4c024ab293cb3e081e97ab6c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1568-4156 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T22:20:25Z |
| publishDate | 2014-05-01 |
| publisher | Ubiquity Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Integrated Care |
| spelling | doaj.art-8356c7cb4c024ab293cb3e081e97ab6c2022-12-21T23:29:23ZengUbiquity PressInternational Journal of Integrated Care1568-41562014-05-0114210.5334/ijic.15251339Breakdown in informational continuity of care during hospitalization of older home-living patients: A case studyRose Mari Olsen0Ove Hellzén1Liv Heidi Skotnes2Ingela Enmarker3Faculty of Health and Science, Nord-Trøndelag University CollegeDepartment of Health Sciences, Mid-Sweden UniversityDepartment of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Nord-Trøndelag HealthTrustFaculty of Health and Science, Nord-Trøndelag University College<strong>Introduction: </strong>The successful transfer of an older patient between health care organizations requires open communication between them that details relevant and necessary information about the patient's health status and individual needs. The objective of this study was to identify and describe the process and content of the patient information exchange between nurses in home care and hospital during hospitalization of older home-living patients.<strong>Methods: </strong>A multiple case study design was used. Using observations, qualitative interviews and document reviews, the total patient information exchange during each patient's episode of hospitalization (<span class="italic">n</span> = 9), from day of admission to return home, was captured. <strong>Results: </strong>Information exchange mainly occurred at discharge, including a discharge note sent from hospital to home care, and telephone reports from hospital nurse to home care nurse, and meetings between hospital nurse and patient coordinator from the municipal purchaser unit. No information was provided from the home care nurses to the hospital nurses at admission. Incompleteness in the content of both written and verbal information was found. Information regarding physical care was more frequently reported than other caring dimensions. Descriptions of the patients’ subjective experiences were almost absent and occurred only in the verbal communication. <strong>Conclusions: </strong>The gap in the information flow, as well as incompleteness in the content of written and verbal information exchanged, constitutes a challenge to the continuity of care for hospitalized home-living patients. In order to ensure appropriate nursing follow-up care, we emphasize the need for nurses to improve the information flow, as well as to use a more comprehensive approach to older patients, and that this must be reflected in the verbal and written information exchange.http://www.ijic.org/articles/1525older peopletransfernursing information exchangehospitalizationhome care |
| spellingShingle | Rose Mari Olsen Ove Hellzén Liv Heidi Skotnes Ingela Enmarker Breakdown in informational continuity of care during hospitalization of older home-living patients: A case study International Journal of Integrated Care older people transfer nursing information exchange hospitalization home care |
| title | Breakdown in informational continuity of care during hospitalization of older home-living patients: A case study |
| title_full | Breakdown in informational continuity of care during hospitalization of older home-living patients: A case study |
| title_fullStr | Breakdown in informational continuity of care during hospitalization of older home-living patients: A case study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Breakdown in informational continuity of care during hospitalization of older home-living patients: A case study |
| title_short | Breakdown in informational continuity of care during hospitalization of older home-living patients: A case study |
| title_sort | breakdown in informational continuity of care during hospitalization of older home living patients a case study |
| topic | older people transfer nursing information exchange hospitalization home care |
| url | http://www.ijic.org/articles/1525 |
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