Julia G Burgdorf1,2, Alicia I Arbaje3, Jo-Ana Chase4, Jennifer L Wolff1,3. 1. Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. 2. Center for Home Care Policy & Research, New York, New York, USA. 3. Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. 4. Sinclair School of Nursing, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Home health clinicians report a need for family caregiver assistance during the majority of skilled home health care episodes. Since 2018, the Medicare Conditions of Participation has required home health agencies to provide training to family caregivers. However, little is known regarding current practices of family caregiver assessment and training during home health care. METHODS: Qualitative research relying on semistructured key informant interviews with registered nurses and physical therapists (n = 19), hereafter "clinicians," from four home health agencies. Interviews were recorded and transcribed, then analyzed using directed content analysis to identify relevant themes and concepts. RESULTS: Three agencies were not-for-profit and one was for-profit; three were urban and one was rural; two operated on a local scale, one on a regional scale, and one on a national scale. Key informants had an average of 9.3 years of experience in home health care and an average age of 45.0 years. Clinicians described a cyclic process of family caregiver training including four major phases: initial assessment, education, reassessment, and adjustment. Initial assessment was informal and holistic; education was delivered via demonstration and teach-back; reassessment was used to evaluate caregiver progress and inform adjustments to the care plan. Clinicians noted that their perceptions regarding the success of family caregiver training efforts influenced decisions relating to clinical practice, including the number of visits provided and whether to discharge the patient. CONCLUSIONS: Caregiver training is currently integrated into clinician workflows in home health care and helps determine visit intensity and discharge timing, but clinicians face a lack of structured assessment instruments or training materials. Efforts by policymakers and home health agencies to facilitate clinicians' training efforts could positively affect the cost and quality of Medicare-funded home health care.
BACKGROUND: Home health clinicians report a need for family caregiver assistance during the majority of skilled home health care episodes. Since 2018, the Medicare Conditions of Participation has required home health agencies to provide training to family caregivers. However, little is known regarding current practices of family caregiver assessment and training during home health care. METHODS: Qualitative research relying on semistructured key informant interviews with registered nurses and physical therapists (n = 19), hereafter "clinicians," from four home health agencies. Interviews were recorded and transcribed, then analyzed using directed content analysis to identify relevant themes and concepts. RESULTS: Three agencies were not-for-profit and one was for-profit; three were urban and one was rural; two operated on a local scale, one on a regional scale, and one on a national scale. Key informants had an average of 9.3 years of experience in home health care and an average age of 45.0 years. Clinicians described a cyclic process of family caregiver training including four major phases: initial assessment, education, reassessment, and adjustment. Initial assessment was informal and holistic; education was delivered via demonstration and teach-back; reassessment was used to evaluate caregiver progress and inform adjustments to the care plan. Clinicians noted that their perceptions regarding the success of family caregiver training efforts influenced decisions relating to clinical practice, including the number of visits provided and whether to discharge the patient. CONCLUSIONS: Caregiver training is currently integrated into clinician workflows in home health care and helps determine visit intensity and discharge timing, but clinicians face a lack of structured assessment instruments or training materials. Efforts by policymakers and home health agencies to facilitate clinicians' training efforts could positively affect the cost and quality of Medicare-funded home health care.
Authors: Catherine Riffin; Jennifer L Wolff; Matthew Estill; Sheela Prabhu; Karl A Pillemer Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2020-03-13 Impact factor: 5.562