title: Examining "success" in post-hip fracture care transitions: a strengths-based approach.
abstract: Transitions between health care settings are a high-risk period for care quality and patient safety (Coleman, 2003; Picker Institute, 1999), particularly for older patients - such as those with hip fracture - who have complex needs and may undergo multiple care transitions. We sought to understand the key elements of "success" in care transition. Using a strengths-based perspective (Rapp, 1998; Saleebey, 2006), we focused on interprofessional health care providers' perspectives of what constitutes a "good" care transition for elderly hip fracture patients. As part of a larger ethnographic field study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 health providers across a number of disciplines employed across the continuum of post-hip fracture management in British Columbia, Canada. We found two hallmarks of "success" in care transitions: a focus on process - information gathering and communication, and a focus on outcomes - autonomy and care pathways. Strategies for promoting and improving success, such as using practitioner-driven ground-up solutions to address challenges in care transitions, are highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Hip Health and Mobility, Vancouver Coastal Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. joanie.sims-gould@hiphealth.ca
authors.forename: Joanie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sims-Gould
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hicks
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stolee
mesh_terms: D000884:Anthropology, Cultural; D003142:Communication; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007400:Interprofessional Relations