About the Project
A particular challenge of demographic change is the adequate care of geriatric persons. Prompt acute care cannot always be guaranteed, especially in more rural regions, causing overly cost-intensive and unsuitable hospital stays. On average, people in need of care spend 21.7 days per year in hospital, mostly without it being medically necessary. Optimal@NRW aims to establish optimized acute care for geriatric patients in stationary and ambulant care through an intersectoral telemedical cooperation network in the region of Aachen in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Within the study telemedicine tools will be implemented in nursing homes next to a standardized early warning system, which continuously evaluates patients’ health status using an automated software, score determinants from clinical observations, and relevant vital signs. Thereby, electronic case files will allow for a coordinated procedure between caregivers and doctors. The acute medical care intervention under consideration contains three conceptual levels: structured initial medical assessment (SmED), teleconsultation, and mobile relieving care assistants (EVA). The overall goal is to reduce avoidable hospitalization through prompt supply, to stabilize geriatric patients’ quality of life, and to use health care resources more cost-efficiently.
Our research team will evaluate the use of EVA regarding the care services provided and will analyze qualification requirements for EVA as well as temporal-spatial processes of supply through EVA. Eventually, systemic integration and planning parameters for a possible upscaling of the project will be investigated.
If successful, the new form of care can be easily transferred to other cities and rural regions as well as to other target groups due to the open digital approach. The project’s modular character enables its transferability to standard care.
Within the study telemedicine tools will be implemented in nursing homes next to a standardized early warning system, which continuously evaluates patients’ health status using an automated software, score determinants from clinical observations, and relevant vital signs. Thereby, electronic case files will allow for a coordinated procedure between caregivers and doctors. The acute medical care intervention under consideration contains three conceptual levels: structured initial medical assessment (SmED), teleconsultation, and mobile relieving care assistants (EVA). The overall goal is to reduce avoidable hospitalization through prompt supply, to stabilize geriatric patients’ quality of life, and to use health care resources more cost-efficiently.
Our research team will evaluate the use of EVA regarding the care services provided and will analyze qualification requirements for EVA as well as temporal-spatial processes of supply through EVA. Eventually, systemic integration and planning parameters for a possible upscaling of the project will be investigated.
If successful, the new form of care can be easily transferred to other cities and rural regions as well as to other target groups due to the open digital approach. The project’s modular character enables its transferability to standard care.
Duration
2020 - 2024
Involved Research line(s)
- Ageing and Long-Term Care
- Creating Value-Based Care
Involved Partners
- Uniklinik RWTH Aachen
- Kassenärztliche Vereinigung Nordrhein
- Techniker Krankenkasse
- Barmer
- IKK classic
- DAK
- Universität Bielefeld (Fakultät für Gesundheitswissenschaften) AG5 – Gesundheitsökonomie und Gesundheits-management
- Maastricht University
Involved Staff
- Thomas Krafft
- Eva Pilot
- Maresa Neuerer
Financing
Optimal@NRW is funded by the Innovation Committee of the German Federal Joint Committee (G-BA).
More Information
Optimal@NRW
Website: https://www.ukaachen.de/kliniken-institute/notaufnahme/forschung/
Website: https://www.ukaachen.de/kliniken-institute/notaufnahme/forschung/