COMMUNITY RESEARCH, DIGITAL HEALTH, ESHIFT, OLDER ADULTS

e-Shift, an innovative home care model: Perceptions of Care Coordinators

Research Summary

Research Topic:

In response to needs of older adults at the end-of-life and challenges in the recruitment and retention of healthcare providers (HCPs) in home care in the South West Community Care Access Center, a new and innovative model of home care, eShift, has been developed. eShift links unregulated providers (technicians) providing home care to a remotely-situated Directing Registered Nurse (DRN), through a smart phone application using real-time communication and documentation technology. The DRN monitors and directs appropriate, safe, and effective care provided in collaboration with the technician in real-time, enhancing quality of care delivery for older adults and their informal caregivers.

Findings:

Care coordinators described eShift as a model of care that complimented and augmented their delivery of care. Care coordinators were able to provide timely, quality, efficient and patient-centered care to palliative patients and their informal caregivers along with shift nursing and unregulated providers (technicians) services. Care coordinators also discussed the emotional impact of trying to ensure the care needs are met for palliative patients and their informal caregivers in difficult circumstances with a limited resource capacity. eShift was described as enabling care coordinators to support patients and families through the palliating process. Overall, care coordinators were positive about the eShift as a model of care that fulfills the needs of palliating patients and their families.

This project is supported by a team of researchers & led by co-principal investigators:

Lorie Donelle, RN, PhD, Associate Professor, Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing and School of Health Studies, Western University. ldonelle@uwo.ca

Sandra Regan, RN, PhD, Associate Professor, Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Western University. sregan4@uwo.ca

Suggested Citation:

Donelle, L., Regan, S. (2015, December). E-shift, an innovative home care model: Perceptions of care coordinators. Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing.

Resources & Links

Team/Advisors

Dr. Lorie Donelle

Associate professor and research chair, Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Western University

Lorie Donelle was inspired to launch Health in All Data from her research across health literacy, equity, and digital health.

She is an Associate Professor at Western University in the Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing and a Scientist with the Lawson Health Research Institute in London Ontario and is an inaugural member of Fellows of the Canadian Academy of Nursing (FCAN). She holds an endowed research chair – the Arthur Labatt Family Chair in Nursing focused on digital health. Dr. Donelle’s research addresses health promotion specific to issues of health & digital health literacy(s), social justice, and digital health. Her research investigates technology-enabled models of healthcare and the relationships between health information technologies and client/clinician health practices. Dr. Donelle contributes to International and national advisory committees for health literacy and digital health.

Dr. Sandra Regan, RN

Deputy Registrar and Executive Director of Education, Policy, and Practice, British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives

Sandra is the Deputy Registrar and Executive Director of Education, Policy, and Practice at the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives.

Sandra’s work focuses on education program review, practice support and consultation, health policy, and research.

Related Projects

e-Shift, an innovative home care model: A 3-Year Study – Summary Review of Research Activities

In response to the needs of older adults at the end-of-life and other patients needing shift nursing care in urban and remote rural settings, and challenges in having sufficient nursing capacity in all locations to provide overnight homecare, the South West Community Care Access Center developed, a new and innovative model of home care called eShift.