Study to develop integrated working
APPROACH (Analysis and Perspectives of integrated working in PRimary care Organisations And Care Homes) was launched in June 2009 at the National Care Homes Conference in Birmingham.
The preliminary findings from the systematic review were presented at the 2009 BSG conference.
Background
The current emphasis of increasing the quality of care in care homes through working with the NHS has led to a proliferation of different initiatives such as specialist support teams and funded care home beds. However, most studies relate to nursing homes with few focusing on residential care. APPROACH is a a three year study funded by the NIHR SDO that aims to clarify the knowledge and information available on integrated working, evaluate its impact on older people and devise a typology to inform future service development and research that supports closer working between the NHS and care home sector.
Research and methodology
APPROACH has a multi-method design with two phases and three elements
- A review of the current research evidence on integrated working between health services and residential care homes.
- A national survey of residential care homes across England to establish the range, type and level of integrated working that exists where health services work with these care homes.
- In depth case studies of six residential care homes that includes tracking the care that older people receive when the NHS and residential care homes are formally working together in different ways to improve the care older of people.
Phase one is currently in progress; the systematic review and survey are being utilised to identify how integrated care between the NHS and care homes is being interpreted and implemented.
Phase two will evaluate six different approaches to integrated care that are being used by care homes and primary health care across three study sites, and will commence in mid 2010.