Care transition for complex patients: a framework to analyse and develop the Operating Centres for Transition

Care transition for complex patients: a framework to analyse and develop the Operating Centres for Transition Angelica Zazzera, Lucia Ferrara, Valeria Domenica Tozzi Journal of Integrated Care, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.- Transitional care (TC) models emerged to ensure healthcare coordination and continuity, as at-risk patients transfer between different settings or different levels of care within the same setting. TC models have been developed in many countries as well as within different healthcare service delivery models and organizations. This paper aims to focus on a TC model developed in Italy called Operating Centre for Transition (OCT), in order to (1) explore its distinctive features by establishing a framework of analysis, (2) apply the framework to study two OCTs and (3) provide recommendations on how to use the framework to evaluate and develop new OCTs in the future. The authors adopted a grounded theory method to develop and validate the framework of analysis. The authors employed several qualitative methods following four iterative and recursive steps: (1) desk analysis of relevant documents, (2) in-depth interviews to key informants, (3) three meetings of an expert working group and (4) application of the framework to two case studies. The framework of analysis identifies three core dimensions that are always present in any OCT: the service model, the functions and the organizational features. Moreover, f...
Source: Journal of Integrated Care - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Source Type: research