Supporting Elderly People With Cognitive Impairment During and After Hospital Stays- Intersectoral Care Management [Verbundprojekt Intersec-CM - sektorenübergreifendes Care Management Zur Unterstützung Kognitiv beeinträchtigter Menschen während Und Nach Einem Krankenhausaufenthalt]

Detailed Summary

Sectorisation of the German health care system causes inefficient treatment, especially in elderly with cognitive impairments. At time of transition from hospitals into primary care it lacks, among others, coordination of post-operative care or timely communication between healthcare providers. This results in deterioration of disease and comorbidities, higher rates of re-admission and institutionalizations. Models of collaborative care have shown their efficacy in primary care. Main goal is to test the effectiveness of Dementia Care Management (DCM) for people with cognitive impairment to improve treatment and care across the in-hospital and primary care sector. The study design is a complex, longitudinal, multisite randomized controlled trial. It was designed to treat a hospital-based epidemiological cohort of people above the age of 70 with an adaption of DCM, a treatment proven to be effective in primary care, to the discharge setting. As part of this, specifically trained study staff will develop, implement and monitor a treatment and care plan, based on comprehensive assessments during the hospital stay, recommendations at discharge and unmet needs at home. For the 3 months after discharge study staff will coordinate treatment and care in close cooperation with the discharging hospital, treating physician and other care providers. Expected results from the study should facilitate the implementation of intersectoral care management systematically on a large scale. Thus, the benefits shown in the trial would be available to a larger population. Results will not be limited to PCI, but rather to any people transitioning between the in-hospital and the primary care sector. Thus, the benefits would be available to elderly people in general.

Study Details

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