title: Health care transitions: perceptions from older patients in Rhode Island.
abstract: Health care transitions are often dangerous for older patients. Interviews with older adults about their health care moves in Rhode Island (RI) were conducted to develop an Internal Medicine (IM) curriculum designed to provide IM interns with insights about the impact of transitions on patients. This paper describes some ways patients talk about their transitional experiences. Following pilot interviews, 10 nursing home residents were interviewed about their care transitions, conversations with physicians, and advice to doctors beginning their careers. The interviews were analyzed to identify themes. Patients described multiple moves, often did not know what to expect, appreciated help from a family member and desired effective communications with physicians. Learning about patient experiences may help new physicians appreciate the experiences of transitions on patients.
authors.affiliation: Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice (Clinical) at the Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research, Brown University School of Public Health.
authors.forename: Renée R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Shield
authors.affiliation: Research Health Science Specialist at the Providence VA Medical Center and Assistant Professor (Research) of Health Services, Policy, and Practice, Brown University School of Public Health.
authors.forename: Kali
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: completed her degree in Human Biology at Brown University in 2013 and is now a Business Analyst at the Public Consulting Group.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ratchford
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D003142:Communication; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000193:education*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes; D062209:Patient Handoff; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012237:Rhode Island
keywords: nursing homes; patient experiences; transitions of care