Sustainable Improvement of INTERprofessional Care for Better Resident Outcomes

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF BASEL · Jun 18, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The INTERSCALE study is looking to improve the care that residents receive in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) in Switzerland. This research follows the earlier INTERCARE model, which was successful in reducing the number of unexpected hospital transfers for residents. The goal of INTERSCALE is to find effective ways to implement this model more widely and cost-effectively in various LTCFs. By focusing on how to make this care model sustainable, the study aims to ensure that residents can continue to receive high-quality care while minimizing unnecessary hospital visits.

To participate in this study, LTCFs must be located in the German-speaking part of Switzerland and have at least 20 long-term care beds. Nurses working in these facilities, as well as other care staff, general practitioners who treat residents, and the residents themselves, may be eligible to take part. Participants can expect to contribute to a program that aims to enhance the quality of care for older adults, with a commitment to regular assessments and feedback. This study is important because it seeks to improve healthcare practices that can lead to better outcomes for residents in long-term care.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Study inclusion/exclusion criteria are based on level of participant:
• • 1. LTCF
• Inclusion criteria:
• • - Located within German-speaking part of Switzerland
• • - ≥ 20 long-term care beds on the cantonal list of LTCFs (or a cooperation of smaller LTCFs with a total of at least 20 long-term care beds, working with the same INTERCARE nurse(s))
• • - Willingness to introduce the core components of INTERCARE (formal commitment)
• • - Willingness to provide routine resident assessment data (Resident Assessment Instrument-nursing home version (RAI-NH) or BESA system)
• Exclusion criteria:
• • - LTCFs located in the Italian- or French-speaking part of Switzerland.
• • - LTCFs who have previously worked with a nurse-led model similar to the INTERCARE/INTERSCALE research intervention
• • 2. INTERCARE nurse
• Inclusion criteria:
• • - Working contract or affiliation with the LTCF
• • - Educational background as an RN with ≥ 3 years' experience working with older persons
• • - Assigned role of INTERCARE nurse
• Exclusion criteria:
• • - No contract with the LTCF
• • 3. Other care staff
• Inclusion criteria:
• • All care staff who work directly with residents (e.g., care workers, physiotherapists and activity staff) of different educational backgrounds (e.g., RNs, LPNs, nurse aides) working in the LTCF at least 8h/week for ≥ 3 months
• • Other therapeutic personnel involved in 8h/week or more in treatments/direct contact with residents
• Exclusion criteria:
• • - Non-health care professionals (e.g., administration)
• • 4. General Practitioners (GPs)
• Inclusion criteria:
• • All GP's who treat at least 5 residents in the LTCF at the time of data collection
• Exclusion criteria:
• • - Temporary substitute GPs
• • 5. Residents
• Inclusion criteria:
• • - All residents present at the LTCF during the study duration with long-term care and billed according to the health insurance law
• Exclusion criteria:
• • - Residents who opt out of participating in the study