Maintaining a medical institution in a context of materiality change: Lessons from a Canadian university hospital.

This research aimed to better understand how institutions are maintained, and the role of materiality in this institutional work. More specifically, the present qualitative case study analyzed how different actors in a large academic hospital in Canada worked together (i.e. accomplished institutional work) to maintain the institution of medical record keeping as a new clinical information system (computerized physician order entry-the material entity) was enacted. The study reveals that, to maintain the institution at stake, the intertwinement of processes of creating and maintaining institutions took place. In fact, different forms of institutional work interact Results also strongly suggest that the design of computerized physician order entry and its implementation (i.e. the materiality involved in this institutional change) played an important role in the maintenance of the institution of medical record keeping: on the one hand, it was particularly present in three types of institutional work, namely enabling, policing, and deterring; on the other hand, it appeared to be an essential component of the routinization of work by allowing a better fit between the new technology and the organization of work.

Caring for older cancer patients: A scoping review.

There is a growing recognition among oncologists that older patients differ from other cancer patients. Older patients present age-specific issues affecting the prevention and management of their cancer. Over the years, this has led to the development of the discipline of geriatric oncology, which is the set of practices elaborated to evaluate, treat, follow-up and rehabilitate the population of older cancer patients. Geriatric oncology is still struggling to establish itself in healthcare settings managing older cancer patients. Efforts are currently being made to make it a recognized medical specialty. Health policy makers have to have a grasp of the evolution of this discipline because it concerns a fast growing segment of the cancer patient population. To shed light on the literature about this field, we undertook a scoping review in which we identified relevant studies; charted the data from the selected studies, collated, summarized and reported the results. From 2043 references initially identified, we included 92 articles in our scoping review and extracted data from 88 articles. The included articles were classified into three major categories, namely Advancing the discipline, Organization of care and Nursing and support services for patient and their caregivers. This review affords researchers and policy makers a foundation to help conduct many other conversations on each theme and sub-theme.

Social Media Strategies for Health Promotion by Nonprofit Organizations: Multiple Case Study Design.

BACKGROUND: Nonprofit organizations have always played an important role in health promotion. Social media is widely used in health promotion efforts. However, there is a lack of evidence on how decisions regarding the use of social media are undertaken by nonprofit organizations that want to increase their impact in terms of health promotion. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to understand why and how nonprofit health care organizations put forth social media strategies to achieve health promotion goals. METHODS: A multiple case study design, using in-depth interviews and a content analysis of each social media strategy, was employed to analyze the use of social media tools by six North American nonprofit organizations dedicated to cancer prevention and management. RESULTS: The resulting process model demonstrates how social media strategies are enacted by nonprofit organizations to achieve health promotion goals. They put forth three types of social media strategies relative to their use of existing information and communication technologies (ICT)-replicate, transform, or innovate-each affecting the content, format, and delivery of the message differently. Organizations make sense of the social media innovation in complementarity with existing ICT. CONCLUSIONS: For nonprofit organizations, implementing a social media strategy can help achieve health promotion goals. The process of social media strategy implementation could benefit from understanding the rationale, the opportunities, the challenges, and the potentially complementary role of existing ICT strategies.

Shedding light on conditions for the successful passive dissemination of recommendations in primary care: a mixed methods study.

BACKGROUND: Passive dissemination of information in healthcare refers to the publication or mailing of newly established guidelines or recommendations. It is one of the least costly knowledge translation activities. This approach is generally considered to be ineffective or to result in only small changes in practice. Recent research, however, suggests that passive dissemination could, under certain conditions, result in modifications of practice, similar to more active dissemination approaches. The objective of our study was to uncover the conditions associated with the change in primary care practice, namely Family Medicine Groups (FMGs) in Quebec (Canada), following the passive dissemination of recommendations for the diagnosis and management of Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (AD). METHODS: We used a three-step, innovative, convergent mixed methods design based on a multiple case study in eight FMGs. Two studies were conducted in parallel: (1) a before and after retrospective chart review and a cluster analysis of FMGs performed on two clinical performance indicators-the rate of AD diagnosis and the quality of follow-up care; (2) a qualitative descriptive study using interviews and focus groups with FMG clinicians and healthcare managers. The results were integrated using joint displays. RESULTS: After the passive dissemination of the recommendations, some FMGs started to implement the recommendations while other FMGs did not change their practice with respect to the AD diagnosis rate and quality of follow-up care. Three interrelated conditions were identified for the successful passive dissemination of clinical recommendations: (1) FMG clinicians with a moderate to high baseline expertise and confidence, which was linked to their existing collaboration with hospital-based specialists in dementia and their motivation; (2) the presence of a self-identified champion (individual champion or collective championship) in the FMGs taking the lead, motivating the clinical staff or organizing training; (3) the availability of sufficient clinical staff enabled these two conditions to have an impact on the implementation of recommendations through passive dissemination. CONCLUSIONS: Passive dissemination of clinical recommendations, a low-cost knowledge translation approach, may lead to practice change under some specific conditions. More active dissemination efforts may only be needed in sites where these conditions are absent.

Grassroots inter-professional networks: the case of organizing care for older cancer patients.

Purpose The purpose of this paper of inter-professional networks is to analyze the evolution of relationships between professional groups enacting new forms of collaboration to address clinical imperatives. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses a case study based on semi-structured interviews with physicians and nurses, document analysis and informal discussions. Findings This study documents how two inter-professional networks were developed through professional agency. The findings show that the means by which networks are developed influence the form of collaboration therein. One of the networks developed from day-to-day, immediately relevant, exchange, for patient care. The other one developed from more formal and infrequent research and training exchanges that were seen as less decisive in facilitating patient care. The latter resulted in a loosely knit network based on a small number of ad hoc referrals while the other resulted in a tightly knit network based on frequent referrals and advice seeking. Practical implications Developing inter-professional networks likely require a sustained phase of interpersonal contacts characterized by persuasion, knowledge sharing, skill demonstration and trust building from less powerful professional groups to obtain buy-in from more powerful professional groups. The nature of the collaboration in any resulting network depends largely on the nature of these initial contacts. Originality/value The literature on inter-professional healthcare networks focusses on mandated networks such as NHS managed care networks. There is a lack of research on inter-professional networks that emerged from the bottom up at the initiative of healthcare professionals in response to clinical imperatives. This study looks at some forms of collaboration that these "grass-root" initiatives engender and how they are consolidated.

Factors influencing cancer specialists' decision to collaborate with geriatricians in treating older cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: the collaboration between geriatricians and cancer specialists holds significant potential for improving care outcomes for older cancer patients. The realisation of this collaboration partly depends on cancer specialists involving geriatricians in caring for their older patients. Yet only a few studies have focused on understanding the reasons for cancer specialists' choice to involve or not involve geriatricians in this care. OBJECTIVE: this study shed some light on the challenges of collaboration between geriatricians and cancer specialists. It describes the case of a hospital that established a clinic staffed by geriatricians to assist cancer treatment teams. The focus of this article is to identify and explain the patterns of referrals of cancer specialists to this clinic. RESULTS: our study suggests that the referral practices of cancer specialists are considerably influenced by their specialty. The cancer specialists who find more applied value from geriatric assessments tend to refer their patients to geriatricians. Medical oncology is the sub-specialty that struggles the most in practically using information from the assessments to adjust their treatment. Cancer specialists who regularly referred to the clinic were the ones who thought that geriatricians had a unique contribution to patient care with their assessments and also with their intervention in palliative and psychosocial care. These specialists were usually from surgery and radiation oncology. CONCLUSIONS: ageing confers an increased risk of developing cancer. Providing adequate care to older cancer patients is still a challenge. Our study opens the 'black box' of collaboration between two important groups of professionals who may intervene in this care.

Understanding the Impact of Electronic Medical Record Use on Practice-Based Population Health Management: A Mixed-Method Study.

BACKGROUND: Practice-based population health (PBPH) management is the proactive management of patients by their primary care clinical team. The ability of clinics to engage in PBPH and the means by which they incorporate it in a clinical setting remain unknown. OBJECTIVE: We conducted the Canadian Population Health Management Challenge to determine the capacity and preparedness of primary care settings to engage in PBPH using their existing medical record systems and to understand the complexities that may exist in PBPH implementation. METHODS: We recruited a sample of electronic medical record (EMR) -enabled and paper-based clinics from across Canada to participate in the challenge. The challenge required clinic staff and physicians to complete time-controlled, evidence-based practice reviews of their patients who may benefit from evidence-informed care, treatment, or interventions across five different areas (immunization, postmyocardial infarction care, cancer screening, diabetes management, and medication recall). We formulated a preparedness index to measure the capacity of clinics to engage in PBPH management. Finally, we conducted follow-up qualitative interviews to provide richer understanding of PBPH implementation and related issues (ie, challenges and facilitators). RESULTS: A total of 11 primary care clinics participated, representing 21 clinician practices. EMR-enabled clinics completed a full review of charts in an average of 1.37 hours. On the contrary, paper-based clinics reviewed nearly 10% of their charts in an average of 3.9 hours, hinting that they would have required an estimated 40 hours to complete a review of charts in their practice. Furthermore, the index revealed a major gap in preparedness between the EMR and paper-based clinics (0.86-3.78 vs 0.05-0.12), as well as a broad range among the EMR clinics. Finally, building on the results of the qualitative analysis, we identified factors facilitating the integration of PBPH. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that EMR usage is pivotal in setting the foundation to support PBPH. The wide range of performance variation among EMR-enabled clinics suggests that EMR functionality and optimization, its support of clinical practice workflow, and policy issues to ensure adoption of standards are critical issues to facilitate PBPH.

Patients', family caregivers', and professionals' perspectives on quality of palliative care: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The quality of palliative care is the foremost preoccupation of clinicians, decision-makers, and managers as well as patients and families. Major input from healthcare professionals is required to develop indicators for the quality of palliative care, but the involvement of patients and families is also recognized as essential, even though this is rarely achieved in practice. AIM: The objectives of this study were to identify (1) convergences and divergences in the points of view of different stakeholders (patients, families, healthcare professionals) relative to key elements of the quality of palliative care and (2) avenues for refining existing indicators of quality of palliative care. DESIGN: Cross-sectional qualitative study. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: There were six settings: two hospital-based palliative care units, one hospice, and three other medical units where a mobile palliative care team intervene. Semi-structured interviews were conducted among 61 patients, families, healthcare professionals, and managers. RESULTS: Four major dimensions of quality of care are deemed critical by patients, their families, and professionals: comprehensive support for the patients themselves, clinical management, involvement of families, and care for the imminently dying person and death. Differences exist between various stakeholders regarding perceptions of some dimensions of quality of care. Avenues for improving current quality of care indicators are identified. CONCLUSION: Our study results can be used to refine or develop quality indicators that truly mirror the points of view of patients and their families and of healthcare professionals.

Impact on hospital admissions of an integrated primary care model for very frail elderly patients.

Very frail elderly patients living in the community, present complex needs and have a higher rate of hospital admissions with emergency department (ED) visits. Here, we evaluated the impact on hospital admissions of the COPA model (CO-ordination Personnes Agées), which provides integrated primary care with intensive case management for community-dwelling, very frail elderly patients. We used a quasi-experimental study in an urban district of Paris with four hundred twenty-eight very frail patients (105 in the intervention group and 323 in the control group) with one-year follow-up. The primary outcome measures were the presence of any unplanned hospitalization (via the ED), any planned hospitalizations (direct admission, no ED visit) and any hospitalization overall. Secondary outcome measures included health parameters assessed with the RAI-HC (Resident Assessment Instrument-Home Care). Comparing the intervention group with the control group, the risk of having at least one unplanned hospital admission decreased at one year and the planned hospital admissions rate increased, without a significant change in total hospital admissions. Among patients in the intervention group, there was less risk of depression and dyspnea. The COPA model improves the quality of care provided to very frail elderly patients by reducing unplanned hospitalizations and improving some health parameters.

Health information technologies in geriatrics and gerontology: a mixed systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To review, categorize, and synthesize findings from the literature about the application of health information technologies in geriatrics and gerontology (GGHIT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This mixed-method systematic review is based on a comprehensive search of Medline, Embase, PsychInfo and ABI/Inform Global. Study selection and coding were performed independently by two researchers and were followed by a narrative synthesis. To move beyond a simple description of the technologies, we employed and adapted the diffusion of innovation theory (DOI). RESULTS: 112 papers were included. Analysis revealed five main types of GGHIT: (1) telecare technologies (representing half of the studies); (2) electronic health records; (3) decision support systems; (4) web-based packages for patients and/or family caregivers; and (5) assistive information technologies. On aggregate, the most consistent finding proves to be the positive outcomes of GGHIT in terms of clinical processes. Although less frequently studied, positive impacts were found on patients' health, productivity, efficiency and costs, clinicians' satisfaction, patients' satisfaction and patients' empowerment. DISCUSSION: Further efforts should focus on improving the characteristics of such technologies in terms of compatibility and simplicity. Implementation strategies also should be improved as trialability and observability are insufficient. CONCLUSIONS: Our results will help organizations in making decisions regarding the choice, planning and diffusion of GGHIT implemented for the care of older adults.

Diffusion of a collaborative care model in primary care: a longitudinal qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Although collaborative team models (CTM) improve care processes and health outcomes, their diffusion poses challenges related to difficulties in securing their adoption by primary care clinicians (PCPs). The objectives of this study are to understand: (1) how the perceived characteristics of a CTM influenced clinicians' decision to adopt -or not- the model; and (2) the model's diffusion process. METHODS: We conducted a longitudinal case study based on the Diffusion of Innovations Theory. First, diffusion curves were developed for all 175 PCPs and 59 nurses practicing in one borough of Paris. Second, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a representative sample of 40 PCPs and 15 nurses to better understand the implementation dynamics. RESULTS: Diffusion curves showed that 3.5 years after the start of the implementation, 100% of nurses and over 80% of PCPs had adopted the CTM. The dynamics of the CTM's diffusion were different between the PCPs and the nurses. The slopes of the two curves are also distinctly different. Among the nurses, the critical mass of adopters was attained faster, since they adopted the CTM earlier and more quickly than the PCPs. Results of the semi-structured interviews showed that these differences in diffusion dynamics were mostly founded in differences between the PCPs' and the nurses' perceptions of the CTM's compatibility with norms, values and practices and its relative advantage (impact on patient management and work practices). Opinion leaders played a key role in the diffusion of the CTM among PCPs. CONCLUSION: CTM diffusion is a social phenomenon that requires a major commitment by clinicians and a willingness to take risks; the role of opinion leaders is key. Paying attention to the notion of a critical mass of adopters is essential to developing implementation strategies that will accelerate the adoption process by clinicians.

Opening the black box of clinical collaboration in integrated care models for frail, elderly patients.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to understand better the clinical collaboration process among primary care physicians (PCPs), case managers (CMs), and geriatricians in integrated models of care. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study with semistructured interviews. A purposive sample of 35 PCPs, 7 CMs, and 4 geriatricians was selected in 2 integrated models of care for frail elderly patients in Canada and France: System of Integrated Care for Older Patients of Montreal and Coordination of Care for Older Patients of Paris. Data were analyzed using a grounded theory approach. FINDINGS: The dynamics of the collaboration process develop in three phases: (1) initiating relationships, (2) developing real two-way collaboration, and (3) developing interdisciplinary teamwork. The findings suggest that CMs and geriatricians collaborated well from the start and throughout the care management process. Real collaboration between the CMs and the PCPs occurred only later and was mostly fostered by the interventions of the geriatricians. PCPs and geriatricians collaborated only occasionally. IMPLICATIONS: The findings provide information about PCPs' commitment to the integrated models of care, the legitimization of the CM's role among PCPs, and the appropriate positioning of geriatricians in such models.

Healthcare professionals' adoption and use of a clinical information system (CIS) in primary care: insights from the Da Vinci study.

UNLABELLED: Given the increasing prevalence of multimorbidity in primary care (PC), interdisciplinary PC teams supported by appropriate clinical information systems (CIS) are needed in order to deal with the complexity of multimorbid patients' care. Our team has developed such a system, called the Da Vinci system. However, despite the expected benefits, evidence suggests generally low rates of CIS adoption. To optimize adoption in PC settings, a better understanding of the implementation process of such systems is crucial. PURPOSE: To identify user profiles, investigate the drivers of and barriers to adoption and use of the Da Vinci system, a PC tailored CIS, and understand the dynamics of the CIS adoption for each profile. METHODS: Using a longitudinal approach, we conducted a qualitative study (individual interviews, documentation and observation) based on the Diffusion of Innovation theory. It included 31 participants (primary care physicians, staff or residents, nurses, pharmacists) from two Family Medicine Groups in Quebec (Canada). RESULTS: The different user profiles drawn from the dynamics of implementation are linked to different sets of perceived drivers and barriers that evolve over time. Certain factors favour the decision of adopting Da Vinci early on: e.g. user skills and the system's expected ease of use and usefulness. Certain concerns hinder its adoption: e.g. perceived negative impact on the doctor-patient relationship. Over time, 5 factors appear to be related to more advanced exploitation of the system's functionalities: user skills, ease of use, comfort using the system in front of patients, support from colleagues and, more importantly, perceived positive impacts. CONCLUSIONS: A better understanding of the dynamics of CIS implementation provides insight into how best to encourage clinicians to adopt and make full use of such systems to improve the quality of care for multimorbid patients followed in PC settings.

[A gerontological network as an interface between healthcare professionals and homecare professionals]. / Rôle d'interface d'un réseau gérontologique entre les acteurs du sanitaire et du maintien à domicile.

The increase in the number of elderly people requires a reorganization of patient care based on integrated networks of healthcare and community services. These services enable patients to remain at home, thus avoiding the significant costs incurred as a result of long hospital stays and numerous visits to emergency departments. Despite the interest of policy-makers in integrated services, the real impact of gerontological networks remains unknown. This study aims to investigate healthcare professionals' perceptions of the links between the various actors involved in older patient care (professionals, health services and community services) and to examine the perceived impact of a gerontological network among a range of different actors. The qualitative study conducted as part of this research examined the Parisian gerontological network Ancrage and its partners based on three main data sources: Ancrage documentation; interviews with 40 healthcare professionals; and observations (inter-service meetings and case management meetings). The data were analyzed using qualitative research methods. Data analysis highlighted three characteristics: the central role of the general practitioner, who remains responsible for the trajectory of care; the relevance of the geriatrician's interventions in the case of severely dependent patients and the assessment of older patients' needs; and the interface between hospitals, general practitioners and homecare professionals. Healthcare professionals highlighted improvements in patients' transition between home and hospital. Two particular areas for improvement emerged from the data. The relationship between the case manager and general practitioners was found to be akin to a delegation of homecare responsibilities and has little impact on practices and relationships between actors. In addition, although geriatricians are gaining in legitimacy, collaboration with general practitioners remains limited.

The IT productivity paradox in health: a stakeholder's perspective.

PURPOSE: While information technology (IT) investments in healthcare are higher than ever, there are contradictions in the literature regarding their ability to improve productivity, quality of care and/or healthcare system efficiency. Using theories that can help make sense of these contradictions, we propose a new framework to assess the actual impacts of health information technology (HIT) implementation. METHOD: Following an exhaustive literature review, we build upon the 'productivity paradox' and 'stakeholder' theories to improve the evaluation of IT impacts in healthcare. Interview data from three case studies of HIT implementation in different hospitals were used to develop our proposed framework. RESULTS: The empirical data analysis suggests that it is important: (1) to identify, account for and accurately measure the appropriate impacts (beneficial/adverse, expected/unforeseen effects); (2) to consider the context of implementation; (3) to adopt a multi-level perspective (individual, group and organization); and (4) to take into account the various stakeholders' perspectives (managers, health professionals and patients). CONCLUSIONS: An assessment framework was developed to provide general guidance on how to assess HIT impacts. The proposed framework will be useful for researchers and practitioners as it takes into account the underlying reasons for the HIT productivity paradox and identifies the salient outcomes of interest linked to HIT implementation.

Diagnostic study, design and implementation of an integrated model of care in France: a bottom-up process with continuous leadership.

BACKGROUND: Sustaining integrated care is difficult, in large part because of problems encountered securing the participation of health care and social service professionals and, in particular, general practitioners (GPs). PURPOSE: To present an innovative bottom-up and pragmatic strategy used to implement a new integrated care model in France for community-dwelling elderly people with complex needs. RESULTS: In the first step, a diagnostic study was conducted with face-to-face interviews to gather data on current practices from a sample of health and social stakeholders working with elderly people. In the second step, an integrated care model called Coordination Personnes Agées (COPA) was designed by the same major stakeholders in order to define its detailed characteristics based on the local context. In the third step, the model was implemented in two phases: adoption and maintenance. This strategy was carried out by a continuous and flexible leadership throughout the process, initially with a mixed leadership (clinician and researcher) followed by a double one (clinician and managers of services) in the implementation phase. CONCLUSION: The implementation of this bottom-up and pragmatic strategy relied on establishing a collaborative dynamic among health and social stakeholders. This enhanced their involvement throughout the implementation phase, particularly among the GPs, and allowed them to support the change practices and services arrangements.

Healthcare professionals and managers' participation in developing an intervention: a pre-intervention study in the elderly care context.

BACKGROUND: In order to increase the chances of success in new interventions in healthcare, it is generally recommended to tailor the intervention to the target setting and the target professionals. Nonetheless, pre-intervention studies are rarely conducted or are very limited in scope. Moreover, little is known about how to integrate the results of a pre-intervention study into an intervention. As part of a project to develop an intervention aimed at improving care for the elderly in France, a pre-intervention study was conducted to systematically gather data on the current practices, issues, and expectations of healthcare professionals and managers in order to determine the defining features of a successful intervention. METHODS: A qualitative study was carried out from 2004 to 2006 using a grounded theory approach and involving a purposeful sample of 56 healthcare professionals and managers in Paris, France. Four sources of evidence were used: interviews, focus groups, observation, and documentation. RESULTS: The stepwise approach comprised three phases, and each provided specific results. In the first step of the pre-intervention study, we gathered data on practices, perceived issues, and expectations of healthcare professionals and managers. The second step involved holding focus groups in order to define the characteristics of a tailor-made intervention. The third step allowed validation of the findings. Using this approach, we were able to design and develop an intervention in elderly care that met the professionals' and managers' expectations. CONCLUSION: This article reports on an in-depth pre-intervention study that led to the design and development of an intervention in partnership with local healthcare professionals and managers. The stepwise approach represents an innovative strategy for developing tailored interventions, particularly in complex domains such as chronic care. It highlights the usefulness of seeking out the insight of healthcare professionalnd managers and emphasizes the need to intervene at different levels. Further research will be needed in order to develop a more thorough understanding of the impacts of such strategies on the final outcomes of intervention implementations.

Fostering participation of general practitioners in integrated health services networks: incentives, barriers, and guidelines.

BACKGROUND: While the active participation of general practitioners (GPs) in integrated health services networks (IHSNs) plays a critical role in their success, little is known about the incentives and barriers to their actual participation. METHODS: Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and a mail survey with GPs enrolled in SIPA (system of integrated care for older persons) at 2 sites in Montreal. A total of 61 GPs completed the questionnaire, from which 22 were randomly selected for the qualitative study, with active and non-active participation in the IHSN. RESULTS: The key themes associated with GP participation were clinician characteristics, consequences perceived at the outset, the SIPA implementation process, relationships with the SIPA team and professional consequences. The incentive factors reported were collaborative practices, high rates of elderly and SIPA patients in their clienteles, concerns about SIPA, the selection of frail elderly patients, close relationships with the case manager, the perceived efficacy of SIPA, and improved professional practices. Barriers to GP participation included high expectations, GP recruitment, lack of information on SIPA, difficult relationships with SIPA geriatricians and deterioration of physician-patient relationships. Four profiles of participation were identified: 2 groups of participants active in SIPA and 2 groups of participants not active in SIPA. The active GPs were familiar with collaborative practices, had higher IHSN patient rates, expressed more concerns than expectations, reported satisfactory relationships with case managers and perceived the efficacy of SIPA. Both active and non-active GPs reported quality care in the IHSN and improved professional practice. CONCLUSION: Throughout the implementation process, the participation of GPs in an IHSN depends on numerous professional (clinician characteristics) and organizational factors (GP recruitment, relationships with case managers). Our study provides guiding principles for establishing future integrated models of care. It suggests practical guidelines to support the active participation of GPs in these networks such as physicians with collaborative practices, recruitment of significant number of patients per physicians, the information provided and the accompaniment by geriatricians.

A novel model of integrated care for the elderly: COPA, Coordination of Professional Care for the Elderly.

Despite strong evidence for the efficacy of integrated systems, securing the participation of health professionals, particularly primary care physicians (PCPs), has proven difficult. Novel approaches are needed to resolve these problems. We developed a model - COPA - that is based on scientific evidence and an original design process in which health professionals, including PCPs, and managers participated actively. COPA targets very frail community-dwelling elders recruited through their PCP. It was designed to provide a better fit between the services provided and the needs of the elderly in order to reduce excess healthcare use, including unnecessary emergency room (ER) visits and hospitalizations, and prevent inappropriate long-term nursing home placements. The model's originality lies in: 1) having reinforced the role played by the PCP, which includes patient recruitment and care plan development; 2) having integrated health professionals into a multidisciplinary primary care team that includes case managers who collaborate closely with the PCP to perform a geriatric assessment (InterRAI MDS-HC) and implement care management programs; and 3) having integrated primary medical care and specialized care by introducing geriatricians into the community to see patients in their homes and organize direct hospitalizations while maintaining the PCP responsibility for medical decisions. Since COPA is currently the subject of both a quasi-experimental study and a qualitative study, we are also providing preliminary findings. These findings suggest that the model is feasible and well accepted by PCPs and patients. Moreover, our results indicate that the level of service utilization in COPA was less than what is reported at the national level, without any compromises in quality of care.

Getting physicians to accept new information technology: insights from case studies.

BACKGROUND: The success or failure of a computer information system (CIS) depends on whether physicians accept or resist its implementation. Using case studies, we analyzed the implementation of such systems in 3 hospitals to understand better the dynamics of physicians' resistance to CIS implementation. METHODS: We selected cases to maximize variation while allowing comparison of CIS implementations. Data were collected from observations, documentation and interviews, the last being the main source of data. Interviewees comprised 15 physicians, 14 nurses and 14 system implementers. Transcripts were produced; 45 segments of the transcripts were coded by several judges, with an appropriate level of intercoder reliability. We conducted within-case and cross-case analyses of the data. RESULTS: Initially, most staff were neutral or enthusiastic about the CIS implementations. During implementation, the level of resistance varied and in 2 instances became great enough to lead to major disruptions and system withdrawal. Implementers' responses to physicians' resistance behaviours played a critical role. In one case, the responses were supportive and addressed the issues related to the real object of resistance; the severity of resistance decreased, and the CIS implementation was ultimately successful. In the other 2 cases, the implementers' responses reinforced the resistance behaviours. Three types of responses had such an effect in these cases: implementers' lack of response to resistance behaviours, antagonistic responses, and supportive responses aimed at the wrong object of resistance. INTERPRETATION: The 3 cases we analyzed showed the importance of the roles played by implementers and users in determining the outcomes of a CIS implementation.