Evaluation of the transprofessional model of home health care for HIV/AIDS

Home Health Care Serv Q. 1998;17(1):55-72. doi: 10.1300/J027v17n01_04.

Abstract

Objective: To determine if a Transprofessional care-management approach (experimental group) produces savings in service delivery dollars when compared to a Traditional treatment approach (control group). The care-management approach utilizes an interdisciplinary mix of allied health professionals who adhere to a service delivery protocol based on active, medical, surgical treatment (curative services) as well as on pain, symptoms, and emotional care (palliative services).

Data sources and study setting: Data were collected from 549 AIDS patients admitted for medical/surgical home-care services to the Visiting Nurse Association of Los Angeles (VNA-LA). Demographic and disease-specific data were collected from admitting records; service-utilization data were collected from the VNA-LA's computerized data system.

Study design: Upon admission for home-care services, patients were randomly assigned to an experimental (Transprofessional) or control (Traditional) treatment group. Service levels were comparable.

Principle findings: Post-test measures indicate an 8 percent reduction in labor delivery costs for an average experimental patient's entire episode of home-care versus for an average control patient's.

Conclusions: An integrated model of service delivery, which is based on interdiscriplinary, care-management and blended modalities of service, provides a cost-effective method in the provision of home-care services for terminally ill AIDS patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cognition
  • Community Health Nursing / economics
  • Community Health Nursing / organization & administration
  • Community Health Nursing / standards
  • Cost Savings
  • Data Collection
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / physiopathology
  • HIV Infections / therapy*
  • Health Services Research
  • Holistic Health
  • Home Care Services / economics
  • Home Care Services / organization & administration*
  • Home Care Services / standards
  • Humans
  • Los Angeles
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Organizational*
  • Program Evaluation*