Abstract
Background: Transitions, where responsibility and treatment are transferred between professionals and sectors, are often associated with insufficient communication, knowledge and information sharing, as well as errors and misunderstandings, for example, in medication. New research suggests that increased cross-sector collaboration, such as cross-sectoral video meetings (V4M), can enhance patient safety, provide reassurance for patients and relatives, improve coordination and collaboration on shared solutions, and contribute to quality throughout the entire treatment process.
However, implementing new initiatives that involve multiple professional groups, sectors, and technological solutions can be particularly challenging. This research project explores barriers and facilitators for implementing cross-sectoral video meetings for complex multimorbid patients, their relatives, general practitioners, municipality healthcare professionals and hospital staff.
Approach: This pre-implementation study is based on workshops conducted in two emergency departments, employing the SWOT framework (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats). Participants included management and staff representatives from both emergency departments, general practice, municipal nursing, and nursing homes, with 12 and 25 interdisciplinary participants attending, respectively. Data were collected via audio recordings and post-it notes, then deductively analyzed using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). The workshop data will subsequently be discussed with representatives from the Patient and Relative Council at one of the hospitals.
Results: There was strong interest in participating in the workshops, the upcoming implementation of video meetings, and discussing potential barriers and facilitators. The analyses are in progress, and it appears that we are identifying factors related to all five CFIR domains - namely the innovation itself, the outer setting, inner setting, individuals and the implementation process - as potential determinants of successful cross-sectoral video meeting implementation.
Implications: Several key determinants will be identified as either supporting or hindering the adoption of cross-sectoral video meetings. Addressing these determinants is essential to ensure successful implementation of a solution aimed at strengthening continuity and patient safety through collaborative planning and coordinating care and treatment. The next step is the actual implementation of cross-sectoral video meetings.