A D'Alleva1, F Leigheb2, C Rinaldi2, F Di Stanislao3, K Vanhaecht4, D De Ridder4, L Bruyneel4, G Cangelosi5, M Panella6. 1. Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Section of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy. Electronic address: dallevaantonella@gmail.com. 2. Department of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy; A.O.U. Maggiore della Carità, Novara, Italy. 3. Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Section of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy. 4. Leuven Institute for Healthcare Policy, University of Leuven, Belgium. 5. A.S.U.R. Marche, Area Vasta 4, Fermo, Italy. 6. Department of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Clinical Networks are complex interventions that enable healthcare professionals from various disciplines to work in a coordinated manner in the context of multiple care settings, to provide a high quality response to a specific disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate if clinical networks are able to improve effectiveness, efficiency, patients' satisfaction and professionals' behavior in the health care settings, namely the "quadruple aim" quality goals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review of documents published until February 28, 2018, in Medline, Embase and CINAHL was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses approach. A specific research strategy was created to identify studies evaluating effectiveness, efficiency, patient satisfaction and professionals well-being obtained through clinical networks implementation. RESULTS: 14249 studies were identified; 12 of these were eligible to the evaluation of "Quadruple Aim" outcomes. 9 studies focused on patients' outcomes improvement and 4 on network efficiency. Professionals' and patients' experience were not considered in any study. CONCLUSIONS: There are some evidences that clinical network can improve patients' outcomes and health funds allocation in a small number of moderate-low quality studies. Further rigorous studies are needed to confirm these findings and to evaluate patients' and professionals' experience, taking into account also networks' structural features that could influence outcomes achievement.
INTRODUCTION: Clinical Networks are complex interventions that enable healthcare professionals from various disciplines to work in a coordinated manner in the context of multiple care settings, to provide a high quality response to a specific disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate if clinical networks are able to improve effectiveness, efficiency, patients' satisfaction and professionals' behavior in the health care settings, namely the "quadruple aim" quality goals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review of documents published until February 28, 2018, in Medline, Embase and CINAHL was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses approach. A specific research strategy was created to identify studies evaluating effectiveness, efficiency, patient satisfaction and professionals well-being obtained through clinical networks implementation. RESULTS: 14249 studies were identified; 12 of these were eligible to the evaluation of "Quadruple Aim" outcomes. 9 studies focused on patients' outcomes improvement and 4 on network efficiency. Professionals' and patients' experience were not considered in any study. CONCLUSIONS: There are some evidences that clinical network can improve patients' outcomes and health funds allocation in a small number of moderate-low quality studies. Further rigorous studies are needed to confirm these findings and to evaluate patients' and professionals' experience, taking into account also networks' structural features that could influence outcomes achievement.
Keywords:
Clinical networks; Health services outcomes; Healthcare organization; Mejora de la calidad; Objetivo cuádruple; Organización sanitaria; Quadruple aim; Quality improvement; Redes clínicas; Resultados de los servicios de salud
Authors: Per Magnus Mæhle; Ingrid Kristine Small Hanto; Sigbjørn Smeland Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-12-09 Impact factor: 3.390