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Published in: BMC Geriatrics 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research article

The experiences of family members in the nursing home to hospital transfer decision

Authors: Kathleen Abrahamson, Brittany Bernard, Lara Magnabosco, Arif Nazir, Kathleen T. Unroe

Published in: BMC Geriatrics | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

The objective of this study was to better understand the experiences of family members in the nursing home to hospital transfer decision making process.
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 family members who had recently been involved in a nursing home to hospital transfer decision.

Results

Family members perceived themselves to play an advocacy role in their resident’s care and interview themes clustered within three over-arching categories: Family perception of the nursing home’s capacity to provide medical care: Resident and family choices; and issues at ‘hand-off’ and the hospital. Multiple sub-themes were also identified.

Conclusions

Findings from this study contribute to knowledge surrounding the nursing home transfer decision by illuminating the experiences of family members in the transfer decision process.
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Metadata
Title
The experiences of family members in the nursing home to hospital transfer decision
Authors
Kathleen Abrahamson
Brittany Bernard
Lara Magnabosco
Arif Nazir
Kathleen T. Unroe
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Geriatrics / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2318
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-016-0359-2

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