title: The safety at home study: an evidence base for policy and practice change.
abstract: This paper explores the policies and practices that are needed to improve the safety of home care in light of the most recent evidence about home care safety in Canada. Four areas for policy and practice change are addressed: 1) the promotion of effective communication processes in home care through cross-sector collaboration, case management and technology innovations; 2) screening for safety risk factors; 3) standardizing care processes, packaging and equipment; and 4) supporting family/caregivers and strengthening clients' ability to engage in therapeutic self-care. Evidence-based strategies for change are presented within the context of the evidence about home care safety issues.
authors.affiliation: Professor emerita at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto. Dr. Doran was a lead investigator of the Pan-Canadian Safety at Home Study and has recognized expertise in health-services research, outcomes measurement, patient safety and e-Health.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Doran
authors.affiliation: Professor in the Department of Health Administration at the Université de Montréal. His research interests include patient safety, prescribed medication policies and optimal use of healthcare resources.
authors.forename: Régis
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blais
authors.affiliation: Professor and program director for the MSc. Quality and Patient Safety offered by the Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation in the School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. His current projects include an assessment of models of community-based primary care and the evaluation of quality improvement education provided through IDEAS (Improving and Delivering Excellence Across Sectors), a large cross-sectoral educational program in Ontario.
authors.forename: G Ross
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: Professor emerita from the School of Nursing at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. She is co-director of the Queen's Joanna Briggs Collaboration focused on the synthesis of evidence for patient safety. Her program of research focused on implementation of evidence-based practices to improve the continuity of care and safety with complex populations.
authors.forename: Margaret B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.affiliation: Nurse scientist at the Victorian Order of Nurses Canada. Her pan-Canadian program of research is focused on home care safety and bereavement care for individuals and families.
authors.forename: Ariella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.affiliation: Associate professor in the School of Nursing at Dalhousie University, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She has a program of research focused on safety in home care, and co-led one of the projects constituting the pan-Canadian safety in home care study.
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Macdonald
authors.affiliation: Research coordinator at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, with expertise in home care and patient safety.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McShane
authors.affiliation: Registered nurse and a Masters student at the University of Toronto with an interest in community based care, ethics and nursing education.
authors.forename: Tieghan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Killackey
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D017028:Caregivers / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D019090:Case Management; D003142:Communication; D006291:Health Policy; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D061214:Patient Safety / Q000592:standards; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012947:Social Work / Q000379:methods