Patient experience and satisfaction with admission to an acute geriatric community hospital in the Netherlands: a mixed method study

PurposeThe acute geriatric community hospital (AGCH) in an intermediate care facility is an alternative to conventional hospitalization. A comprehensive geriatric assessment and rehabilitation are integrated into acute medical care for older patients. This study aims to evaluate patient experience and satisfaction with the AGCH.Design/methodology/approachThis is a mixed method observational study including a satisfaction questionnaire and qualitative interviews with AGCH patients or informal caregivers.FindingsA total of 152 participants filled in the questionnaire, and thirteen semi-structured interviews were conducted. Twelve categories and four overarching themes emerged in the analysis. In general, study participants experience the admission to the AGCH as positive and are satisfied with the care they received; there were also suggestions for improvement.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations of this study include possible participation bias. The results show that patients value this type of care indicating that it should be implemented elsewhere. Further research will focus on health outcomes, readmission rates and cost effectiveness of the AGCH.Originality/valueThis is the first study to evaluate care satisfaction with the AGCH. It shows that hospitalized older adults positively value the AGCH as an alternative to hospitalization.

Analysis of the distribution of gynecologic diseases treated at a day gynecology unit

Background: A gynecological day hospital is an alternative to hospitalization enabling to improve accessibility and avoid hospitalizations. Our study investigated the most common gynecologic issues treated in a day gynecology clinic. Methods: The distribution of attendances to a gynecology day hospital was studied in the period from 2015 to 2017. Data collected from the gynecologic diagnoses (a total of 2,908 cases) were standardized according to the International Classification of Diseases in its tenth revision. Results: Over the period from 2015 to 2017, noninflammatory disorders of the female genital tract (N80–N99) were predominant in the distribution of gynecologic conditions treated on an outpatient basis, that is, 69.0% in 2015, 78.6% in 2016, and 82.3% in 2017 of the total number of admissions. Among non-inflammatory disorders of the female genital tract, the most common were as follows: polyp of female genital tract (N84); other non-inflammatory disorders of uterus (N85), which include endometrial glandular hyperplasia (N85.0) and endometrial adenomatous hyperplasia (N85.1); erosion and ectropion of cervix uteri (N86); female infertility (N97). Conclusions: Our findings correspond to data obtained in other countries. The main group of diseases is represented by non-inflammatory disorders of the female genital tract. Thus, the data can be used in planning and organizing gynecological care for women undergoing treatment in day facilities.

How Are You?: A Culturally Sensitive Group Therapy Program for Latinos

IntroductionAn ongoing challenge for the behavioral health field in the United States is ensuring access to culturally and linguistically responsive treatments for the growing number of monolingual Spanish speakers. The limited availability of services further compromises mental health outcomes given the unique psychosocial stressors often experienced in this population, such as language barriers, family separation and inadequate social support, unemployment, trauma, and poverty.ObjectiveIn response to the local demand for services, the authors describe a specialized group program for monolingual Spanish speaking adults with chronic and persistent mental illness.AimsThe program aims are two-fold:– to reduce exacerbation of psychiatric symptoms for individuals presenting in an acute state of distress through the provision of recovery-oriented mental health services in a familiar setting and preferred language;– to offer a specialized behavioral health training experience for bilingual psychology doctoral students.MethodsThe group is led by the psychology fellow and is offered twice per week for a total of six hours, and includes elements of interpersonal and cognitive behavioral therapy; motivational interviewing; spirituality; coping skills training; and art/music.ResultsThe described mental health group program is the only one available in Spanish in the local community and has reduced utilization of the hospital emergency room. Consequently, it fills an important gap in the service system and offers care that would otherwise be unavailable for individuals in need.ConclusionsThe program is a cost-effective alternative to hospitalization for Spanish speaking Latinos and a unique professional experience for psychologists in-training interested in a career in the public sector.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.