Developing an Australian health and aged care research agenda: a systematic review of evidence at the subacute interface.

Conclusions There is limited high-quality research investigating the effectiveness of interventions at the health and aged care interface of subacute care. Further research is needed.What is known about the topic? Subacute care offers important healthcare programs for older people, operating at the interface between health and aged care. However, for the most part this has not been subject to research scrutiny.What does this paper add? Identified studies were predominantly hospital oriented and designed to avoid hospital admission and associated costs. Locally integrated, collaborative and multidiscipline based interventions improve system-level outcomes. Alternative and individualised models of care, particularly when provided in their home setting, yields positive outcomes for older people.What are the implications for practitioners? Health and aged care reforms and related research agenda must include the perspectives and experiences of patients and/or carers accessing subacute care programs, yet these are under-reported. The present review highlights opportunities to improve the quality of existing evidence and create a research agenda for the future. PMID: 26536066 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Australian Health Review - Category: Hospital Management Authors: Tags: Aust Health Rev Source Type: research