Care transition types across acute, sub-acute and primary care: Case studies of older people with complex conditions and their carers
ISSN: 1476-9018
Article publication date: 14 May 2018
Issue publication date: 2 July 2018
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the paper is to examine the care transitions of older people who transfer between home, acute and sub-acute care to determine if there were common transition types and areas for improvements.
Design/methodology/approach
A longitudinal case study design was used to examine care transitions of 19 older people and their carers as a series of transitions and a whole-of-system experience. Case study accounts synthesising semi-structured interviews with function and service use data from medical records were compared.
Findings
Three types of care transitions were derived from the analysis: manageable, unstable and disrupted. Each type had distinguishing characteristics and older people could experience elements of all types across the system. Transition types varied according to personal and systemic factors.
Originality/value
This study identifies types of care transition experiences across acute, sub-acute and primary care from the perspective of older people and their carers. Understanding transition types and their features can assist health professionals to better target strategies within and across the system and improve patient experiences as a whole.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This study was funded by The Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute (APHCRI) Research stream: The relationship between Sub-acute and Primary Health Care (2013-2015). The authors acknowledge the generosity of the older people and carers who participated in this study.
Citation
Harvey, D., Foster, M., Quigley, R. and Strivens, E. (2018), "Care transition types across acute, sub-acute and primary care: Case studies of older people with complex conditions and their carers", Journal of Integrated Care, Vol. 26 No. 3, pp. 189-198. https://doi.org/10.1108/JICA-12-2017-0047
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited