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The impact of ECP activity on Care Homes (CHs) in Doncaster. Dr Robin Lewis Sheffield Hallam University. The Study. The aim of the study is to look at the impact of the ECP service on CHs within the Doncaster area CHs make up approximately 60 % of all ECP referrals to date
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The impact of ECP activity on Care Homes (CHs) in Doncaster Dr Robin Lewis Sheffield Hallam University
The Study • The aim of the study is to look at the impact of the ECP service on CHs within the Doncaster area • CHs make up approximately 60% of all ECP referrals to date • There are clear issues for the appropriate clinical management of CH residents with urgent care needs (acute but minor illness or injury e.g. UTIs or falls) particularly out of hours • The ECP potentially has a significant role to play here in the prevention/avoidance of unnecessaryED attendance and/or hospital admission in this group of patients
Aims of the study The study seeks to answer the following questions: • Why do some CHs use the ECP service, and not others? • What are the demographical characteristics of these CHs? • What factors influence the use of the ECP service? • What are the enablers and barriers to use? • What might be done to improve and encourage the appropriate usage of the service by CHs?
Study Design - mixed methods • Postal questionnaire sent to all CHs in the area (n=94) (phase 1) • Follow up interviews with a sample of CH staff regarding their views/perceptions of the ECP service (phase 2) • Interviews with a sample of ECPs looking at their views on the clinical management of CH residents presenting with minor injury or illness (phase 2)
Some Preliminary Findings... Early adopters value the SSAFA ECP service for: • The flexibility of a reliable 24/7 service with... • Ease of access to help/advice via a single point of access telephone which is always answered • An increase in the amount of 'in situ' treatment given by ECPs on site contributing to... • A perceived reduction in the numbers of CH residents (unnecessarily) transported to the ED or admissions ward at DRI (when compared to the Ambulance Service or the OOH GP service)
Next Steps • Completion of first phase survey end of July 2013 • Second phase interviews July-August 2013 • Publication and dissemination of findings by end of 2013 • Applications for further research funding