Practicality of Acute and Transitional Care and its consequences in the era of SwissDRG: a focus group study
Practicality of Acute and Transitional Care and its consequences in the era of SwissDRG: a focus group study (BMC Health Service Research).
Switzerland recently introduced Acute and Transitional Care (ATC) as a new financing option and a preventive measure to mitigate potential side effects of Swiss Diagnosis Related Group (SwissDRG). The goal of ATC was to support patients who after acute treatment at
a hospital require temporary increased professional care. However, evidence is lacking as to the practicality of ATC.
[]
Results
Our findings first reveal that ATC’s implementation differs in the five cantons
(i.e. federal states). In two cantons, only ambulatory variant of ATC is used;
in one canton only stationary ATC has been created, and two cantons had both
ambulatory and stationary ATC but preferred the latter. Second, there are
intrinsic practical challenges associated with ATC, which include physicians’
lack of familiarity with ATC and its regulatory limitations. Finally,
participants felt that due to shorter hospital stays because of SwissDRG,
premature discharge of patients with complex care needs to stationary ATC takes
place. This development does not fit the nursing home concept of care tailored
to long-term patients.
Conclusion
This empirical study underscores that there is a strong need to improve ATC so
that it is uniformly implemented throughout the country and its application is
streamlined. In light of the newness of ATC as well as SwissDRG, their impact
on the quality of care received by patients is yet to be fully understood.
Empirical evidence is necessary to improve these two measures.
Quelle: BMC Health Service Research, 13.06.2019
