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Wyer L, Guterman Y, Ewa V, Lang E, Faris P, Holroyd-Leduc J. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on transfers between long-term care and emergency departments across Alberta. BMC Emerg Med 2024; 24:9. [PMID: 38185672 PMCID: PMC10773029 DOI: 10.1186/s12873-023-00926-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long-term care (LTC) was overwhelmingly impacted by COVID-19 and unnecessary transfer to emergency departments (ED) can have negative health outcomes. This study aimed to explore how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted LTC to ED transfers and hospitalizations, utilization of community paramedics and facilitated conversations between LTC and ED physicians during the first four waves of the pandemic in Alberta, Canada. METHODS In this retrospective population-based study, administrative databases were linked to identify episodes of care for LTC residents who resided in facilities in Alberta, Canada. This study included data from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2021 to capture outcomes prior to the onset of the pandemic and across the first four waves. Individuals were included if they visited an emergency department, received care from a community paramedic or whose care involved a facilitated conversation between LTC and ED physicians during this time period. RESULTS Transfers to ED and hospitalizations from LTC have been gradually declining since 2018 with a sharp decline seen during wave 1 of the pandemic that was greatest in the lowest-priority triage classification (CTAS 5). Community paramedic visits were highest during the first two waves of the pandemic before declining in subsequent waves; facilitated calls between LTC and ED physicians increased during the waves. CONCLUSIONS There was a reduction in number of transfers from LTC to EDs and in hospitalizations during the first four waves of the pandemic. This was supported by increased conversations between LTC and ED physicians, but was not associated with increased community paramedic visits. Additional work is needed to explore how programs such as community paramedics and facilitated conversations between LTC and ED providers can help to reduce unnecessary transfers to hospital.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leanna Wyer
- Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB, Canada.
| | | | - Vivian Ewa
- Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Eddy Lang
- Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Peter Faris
- Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Jayna Holroyd-Leduc
- Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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Cetin-Sahin D, Cummings GG, Gore G, Vedel I, Karanofsky M, Voyer P, Gore B, Lungu O, Wilchesky M. Taxonomy of Interventions to Reduce Acute Care Transfers From Long-term Care Homes: A Systematic Scoping Review. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2023; 24:343-355. [PMID: 36758622 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2022.12.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/31/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To develop a taxonomy of interventions aimed at reducing emergency department (ED) transfers and/or hospitalizations from long-term care (LTC) homes. DESIGN A systematic scoping review. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Permanent LTC home residents. METHODS Experimental and comparative observational studies were searched in MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase Classic + Embase, the Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, Social Work Abstracts, AMED, Global Health, Health and Psychosocial Instruments, Joanna Briggs Institute EBP Database, Ovid Healthstar, and Web of Science Core Collection from inception until March 2020. Forward/backward citation tracking and gray literature searches strengthened comprehensiveness. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to assess study quality. Intervention categories and components were identified using an inductive-deductive thematic analysis. Categories were informed by 3 intervention dimensions: (1) "when/at what point(s)" on the continuum of care they occur, (2) "for whom" (ie, intervention target resident populations), and (3) "how" these interventions effect change. Components were informed by the logistical elements of the interventions having the potential to influence outcomes. All interventions were mapped to the developed taxonomy based on their categories, components, and outcomes. Distributions of components by category and study year were graphically presented. RESULTS Ninety studies (25 randomized, 23 high quality) were included. Six intervention categories were identified: advance care planning; palliative and end-of-life care; onsite care for acute, subacute, or uncontrolled chronic conditions; transitional care; enhanced usual care (most prevalent, 31% of 90 interventions); and comprehensive care. Four components were identified: increasing human resource capacity (most prevalent, 93%), training or reorganization of existing staff, technology, and standardized tools. The use of technology increased over time. Potentially avoidable ED transfers and/or hospitalizations were measured infrequently as primary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS This proposed taxonomy can guide future intervention designs. It can also facilitate systematic reviews and precise effect size estimations for homogenous interventions when outcomes are comparable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deniz Cetin-Sahin
- Department of Family Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Donald Berman Maimonides Centre for Research in Aging, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Greta G Cummings
- College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Genevieve Gore
- Department of Family Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Isabelle Vedel
- Department of Family Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Mark Karanofsky
- Department of Family Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Herzl Family Practice Centre, Jewish General Hospital CIUSSS Centre Ouest de l'ile de Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Phillippe Voyer
- Faculty of Nursing, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Brian Gore
- Donald Berman Maimonides Centre for Research in Aging, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Ovidiu Lungu
- Department of Psychiatry, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Machelle Wilchesky
- Department of Family Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Donald Berman Maimonides Centre for Research in Aging, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Division of Geriatric Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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