Empowering orthopedic nurses' and nurse's aides through a multimodal geriatric mobile team: a mixed methods study

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Geriatric perioperative units face access limitations due to organizational constraints.
• A mobile geriatric team can extend specialized care to orthopedic wards upon request.
• This study assessed caregiver perceptions and patient care quality changes following mobile team intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore caregivers' perceptions of a mobile geriatric team.
• To examine the impact of a mobile geriatric team on orthopedic patient care quality.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of targeted geriatric education for orthopedic staff.

Main Methods:

• Mixed-methods convergent design utilizing direct geriatric expertise and education.
• Training included aging simulation, error awareness, and hospital-associated disability courses.
• Quantitative assessment of pain management, mobilization, nutrition, and continence; qualitative focus groups with staff.

Main Results:

• The mobile team evaluated 38 patients (mean age 84), improving care appropriateness in over 70% of cases.
• Caregivers reported reduced isolation and enhanced recognition through improved communication and shared decision-making.
• The intervention positively impacted all four assessed domains of post-operative care.

Conclusions:

• Perioperative geriatric mobile teams are crucial for supporting nurses and aides in orthopedic settings.
• Hands-on assistance and education from mobile teams strengthen geriatric care beyond specialized units.
• The intervention enhances professional confidence and improves patient outcomes in geriatric orthopedic care.