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Transitional care interventions: Relevance for nursing in the community.
Alice Coffey1, Helen Mulcahy1, Eileen Savage1
1School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Public Health Nursing (Boston, Mass.)
|April 5, 2017
Summary
Transitional care interventions significantly reduce hospital readmissions and mortality for patients with chronic conditions. Effective transitional care requires strong communication between healthcare providers to ensure continuity of care.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Nursing Science
- Gerontology
Background:
- Healthcare coordination faces challenges due to care setting transitions, chronic conditions, and dependent older adults.
- Transitional care services are crucial for maintaining continuity of care.
- Community nursing plays a vital role in patient care transitions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and synthesize evidence on the relevance of transitional care interventions for community nursing.
- To identify evidence-based interventions supporting a community nursing and midwifery model in Ireland.
Main Methods:
- Systematic search of electronic databases for empirical studies published between 2010 and 2015.
- Studies assessed for methodological quality using Cochrane Risk of Bias and AMSTAR tools.
- Key themes and concepts extracted and synthesized.
Main Results:
- Transitional care interventions demonstrated significant positive effects.
- Reductions observed in all-cause readmissions and mortality.
- Heart failure-related rehospitalizations were also decreased.
Conclusions:
- Effective transitional care hinges on seamless communication between acute and primary care providers.
- This highlights implications for integrated care delivery across settings.
- Enhancing nursing competence is essential for successful transitional care.