The BRIGHTEN Program: Implementation and Evaluation of a Program to Bridge Resources of an Interdisciplinary Geriatric Health Team via Electronic Networking

Abstract

The BRIGHTEN Program demonstrated that an interdisciplinary virtual team linked with outpatient medical clinics can be an effective, nonthreatening, and seamless approach to enable older adults to access treatment for depression.

Collaboration in a primary care setting: strategies for a family nurse practitioner caring for the frail older adult

“…Frail older adults such as Mr. Brown are at significant risk for hospital admission and morbidity, and consequently complex and multifaceted care is often required to provide quality care. Although the ultimate outcome of Mr. Brown' s story might not have changed if there had been more effective collaboration, the literature suggests that collaboration between health care providers can contribute to better health outcomes for frail older adults (Baxter & Markle-Reid, 2009;Emery, Lapidos, Eisenstein, Ivan, & Golden, 2012;Park, Miller, Tien, Sheppard, & Bernard, 2014). 4 Throughout the literature, there are numerous terms such as interdisciplinary collaboration, integrated care, and interprofessional working, used interchangeably with similar definitions to that of collaboration.…”

“…Researchers have shown collaboration to be positive and even necessary, to create best outcomes for the Canadian population as they age (Baxter & Markle-Reid, 2009;Emery et al , 2012;Park et al, 2014). Some of the best outcomes include timely implementation of care, stability of chronic frailty issues, and keeping the frail older adult in individual dwellings for as long as possible.…”

“…Some of the best outcomes include timely implementation of care, stability of chronic frailty issues, and keeping the frail older adult in individual dwellings for as long as possible. Collaboration between health care providers continues to show gains for the complex specialty care required for the frail older adult person and are often considered core competencies of professional practice (Boult & Wieland, 2010;Emery et al, 2012;Ryan et al, 2013), in some instances without a significant increase in medical cost (Emery, Millheiser, Garcia, Marquine, & Golden, 2011 ). Considering the benefits, it is worth the time and energy to ensure that the collaboration occurring between providers is effective, and the process is producing positive results.…”

“…Different health care providers evaluate health care situations on different levels and through different care foci (Emery et al, 2012;Korazim-Korosy, Mizrahi, Bayne-Smith, & Garcia, 2014). Although the different care foci may create some barriers to collaborative care, these ideological dissimilarities between providers may be the perfect combination to foster creative ideas, complementary care, and produce a stronger health care system.…”

“…Along with liability concerns, privacy and consent issues may act as a further challenge to collaboration (Eiissen et al, 2010;Emery et al, 2012;OMA, 2014). There is an assumption of consent for the health care provider to be able to share patient information with other care providers for the purposes of an individual ' s care and treatment (BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association [BCFIPA ], 2011 ).…”