Open AccessCaregiver and Provider Experiences of Home Healthcare Quality for Children With Medical Complexity
Author(s) -
Carolyn C. Foster,
Molly Fuentes,
Lauren A. Wadlington,
Elizabeth JacobFiles,
Arti D. Desai,
Tamara D. Simon,
Rita Mangione-Smith
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
home healthcare now
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.234
H-Index - 26
eISSN - 2374-4537
pISSN - 2374-4529
DOI - 10.1097/nhh.0000000000000857
Subject(s) - medical home , health care , quality (philosophy) , nursing , workforce , economic shortage , medicine , family medicine , family centered care , government (linguistics) , primary care , philosophy , epistemology , economics , economic growth , linguistics
Despite a growing population of children with medical complexity, little is known about the current quality of pediatric home healthcare. The objective of this study was to characterize the quality of pediatric home healthcare experienced by primary family caregivers (parents) and healthcare providers of children with medical complexity. Semistructured, in-depth key informant interviews of 20 caregivers and 20 providers were conducted and analyzed for factors affecting home healthcare quality using the Institute of Medicine's quality framework (effective, safe, patient-centered, timely, equitable, and efficient). System complexity, insurance denials, and workforce shortages affected patients' ability to establish and maintain access to home healthcare leading to hospital discharge delays and negative family impacts. When home healthcare was accessible, respondents experienced it as effective in improving patient and family daily life and minimizing use of emergency and hospital services. However, respondents identified a need for more pediatric-specific home healthcare training and increased efficiencies in care plan communication. Overall, home healthcare was not perceived as timely or equitable due to access barriers. This study provides a new conceptual framework representing the relationship between home healthcare quality and outcomes for children with medical complexity for future evaluations of quality improvement, research, and policy initiatives.