Implementation of a neighbourhood care model in a Scottish integrated context—views from patients

Abstract

There is a need to test new models of integrated health and social care, particularly due to increasing financial and epidemiological pressures on services. One critical component of testing new models is the acceptability to patients. Here, the aim was to understand the acceptability of a new model of care to patients by understanding their experience of being supported by a self-managing, community-based, integrated, health and social care team. The INCA service consisted of three support workers and three nurses in two teams. These teams were self-managing and had autonomy over service operations and care delivery. Eight interviews and satisfaction questionnaires were conducted with patients. Interviews were transcribed and analysed thematically. Patients found the service highly acceptable (mean overall satisfaction of 98%), self-reporting a variety of benefits to their wellbeing. Central to this acceptability was the autonomy of staff to adjust care frequency and duration to patients' needs, in addition to describing an active engagement and partnership within their support plans. Future work should aim to ascertain the experiences of staff working in this model and whether receiving support in this way improves clinical outcomes.

The implementation and outcomes of self‐managing teams in elderly care: A scoping review

“…Despite the importance of the supporting role of the coach, the team itself must remain responsible for its own performance (Yeatts & Seward, 2000 ). Leask and Gilmartin ( 2019 ) and Zimmerman and Cohen ( 2010 ) stressed that often teams need an explanation on how effective and efficient decisions through consensus in an SMT can be taken. Nurses could need training to feel more comfortable when becoming self‐managed, as they might think they are not capable of having the extra responsibilities that come with SMTs (Alders, 2015 ).…”

“…Patient's acceptance of SMTs was high (Leask & Gilmartin, 2019), and continuity of care has improved due to the joint decision-making, better treatment adherence and greater cooperation with family and other care disciplines (Dean, 2015;.…”

“…Patient outcomes and emotional well-being improved as satisfaction with the provided care was higher and in one Scottish case study increased to an average score of 98% (Leask & Gilmartin, 2019).…”

“…Despite the importance of the supporting role of the coach, the team itself must remain responsible for its own performance (Yeatts & Seward, 2000). Leask and Gilmartin (2019) and…”

“…Because most appointments are usually based on patients' needs and preferences, patient satisfaction has increased (Tennant & Narayan, 1997). The cooperation between nurse, patient and their family resulted in improved external support structures and optimized relationships between nurses and patients Kreitzer et al, 2015;Leask & Gilmartin, 2019).…”