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The patient care circle: A descriptive framework for understanding care transitions
Author(s) -
Lee Jennifer I.,
Cutugno Christine,
Pickering Sean P.,
Press Matthew J.,
Richardson Joshua E.,
Unterbrink Michelle,
Kelser Mary Elizabeth,
Evans Arthur T.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of hospital medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.128
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1553-5606
pISSN - 1553-5592
DOI - 10.1002/jhm.2084
Subject(s) - medicine , psychosocial , transferability , qualitative research , nursing , hospital medicine , health care , teamwork , focus group , grounded theory , family medicine , incentive , psychiatry , law , economics , economic growth , social science , business , marketing , sociology , political science , microeconomics
BACKGROUND Reducing hospital readmissions depends on ensuring safe care transitions, which requires a better understanding of the challenges experienced by key stakeholders. OBJECTIVE Develop a descriptive framework illustrating the interconnected roles of patients, providers, and caregivers in relation to readmissions. DESIGN Multimethod qualitative study with 4 focus groups and 43 semistructured interviews. Multiple perspectives were included to increase the trustworthiness (internal validity) and transferability (external validity) of the results. Data were analyzed using grounded theory to generate themes associated with readmission. SETTING/PATIENTS General medicine patients with same‐site 30‐day readmissions, their family members, and multiple care providers at a large urban academic medical center. RESULTS A keynote generated from the multiperspective responses was that care transitions were optimized by a well‐coordinated multidiscipline support system, described as the Patient Care Circle. In addition, issues pertaining to readmissions were identified and classified into 5 main themes emphasizing the necessity of a coordinated support network: (1) teamwork, (2) health systems navigation and management, (3) illness severity and health needs, (4) psychosocial stability, and (5) medications. CONCLUSION A well‐coordinated collaborative Patient Care Circle is fundamental to ensuring safe care transitions. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2013;8:619–626. © 2013 Society of Hospital Medicine