IMPACT Plus: The Integrated Complex Care Clinic

Overview

The "IMPACT Plus" Integrated Complex Care Clinic will create a team model of simultaneous interprofessional consultation and planning that brings together patients with complex or multiple chronic diseases, significant others/caregivers, the primary care team, community care providers and, uniquely, secondary consultation in real time at the primary care site. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the IMPACT clinic will reduce admission to hospital and visits to the emergency department (ED) in comparison to a control (usual care) group during a one year period of observation. Chart audits will be conducted on a monthly basis to calculate patients' complexity scores and data on all health services provided during the intervention phase, and compared between the intervention and control group. Additionally, surveys and semi-structured interviews aimed to measure patient, caregiver, and healthcare professional satisfaction of the IMPACT+ prior to and after initial assessment will be collected.

The investigators propose a pragmatic clinical trial to evaluate whether the IMPACT model will reduce hospital admissions and emergency room visits. All patients who meet the eligibility criteria will be randomized to be invited for assessment in IMPACT or be followed in usual care. Each FHT will generate a list of eligible participants drawn from their EMR. Participants will be randomly selected from this list and patients will be invited for an IMPACT assessment. Using data collected at each FHT by a trained chart abstractor on a monthly basis, all hospital admissions and emergency room visits will be counted. As well, all health service utilization for both intervention and control group will be collected. The investigators will compare the proportion of patients admitted to hospital or seen in the emergency room between the intervention and control group for the one year time period. For the secondary objectives of the study, patient and care givers in the intervention group will be asked to complete the Caregiver Strain Index (a standardized and validated instrument) both before the IMPACT intervention and up to 6 months later. The investigators will adapt an existing survey to measure health care professionals' experiences in providing care in an inter-professional team for seniors with complex chronic illness. The Dimensions of Teamwork Survey, will be administered at each FHT at the beginning of the study and at the end of the intervention period in order to assess team function and stability of team function. Lastly, interviews with patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals will be conducted to explore satisfaction with the IMPACT experience and subsequent care as well as self-efficacy in managing their care. The interviews will be audio-recorded and professionally transcribed. Key themes emerging from the qualitative data will be identified. Preliminary findings will be subjected to a process of member checking/respondent validation to ensure accuracy of interpretation.