Collaboration in discharge planning in relation to an implicit framework

• Aim: The aim of our study was to explore healthcare and social care professionals’ experiences of preconditions for interorganizational and interprofessional collaboration to support frail elderly patients in discharge planning conferences. Background: At the time for hospital discharge, healthcare and social care professionals have to balance safe care, need for continuity of care, and elderly patients’ own expectations with economical demands. Therefore, collaboration interorganizationally and interprofessionally is essential, since deficiencies are risks to patient safety. Methods: Four focus groups, which consisted of 30 participants—occupational therapists, social workers, physiotherapists, and nurses from hospital, primary care, municipal health, and social welfare—were held. Results: The tacit framing of normative and contextual aspects that influenced discharge conferences’ outcomes, such as around decision-making about post-discharge activities, was identified as a main category in the results, comprised of the following four categories: (1) Different perceptions of prioritizing the elderly patients’ involvement in practice; (2) Choice of method for information transferal affecting collaboration; (3) The limited timeframe affecting assessments and choice of actions; (4) Underlying professional hierarchies. Conclusions: Overall, we found professional hierarchies and organizational administrative demands on efficiency reduced collaboration interorganizationally and between healthcare and social care professionals. Based on our findings, it is our opinion further development is needed both locally at hospitals and at a systemic level in Sweden.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Sociologi -- Socialt arbete (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Sociology -- Social Work (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Arbetsterapi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Occupational Therapy (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Healthcare collaboration

Interprofessional collaboration

Patient discharge

Elderly care

Collaboration

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)