Minister for Health Simon Harris TD launched the Final Report on the Enhanced Care Model, which is designed to change the way we deliver enhanced care, improve patient outcomes, reduce agency spend and increase job satisfaction for heath care staff.
The Report outlines a new model of care for patients in acute hospitals who need dedicated one to one care or ‘enhanced care’. What this means is that enhanced care will be delivered by a team of specially trained Health Care Assistants, supported by the nurses on the ward and senior nurses throughout the hospital.
It involves person-centred care being delivered in collaboration with a patient’s family, using specific initiatives such as distraction therapy, music, and other clinical resources to promote healing and recovery. The care is documented using specifically developed care plans, to ensure consistency and a person-centred approach.
Enhanced care is provided for patients who may be disoriented, have altered cognition or behaviour or a non-acute mental health illness. Preventing falls, confusion and agitation are the most common reasons that patients may require enhanced care.
Launching the report, Minister Harris said “This Report marks another step in ensuring that patient safety is to the fore when meeting the complex care needs for our most vulnerable patients. The continued work under the Framework for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix led by Dr Siobhan O’Halloran, Chief Nursing Officer, is indicative of this Government’s commitment to safe patient care”.
The Enhanced Care Model was created using the evidence and learning arising from the implementation of the Framework for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix in General and Specialist Medical and Surgical Care Settings. The provision of this level of care presents a significant challenge in our hospitals. The testing demonstrated the model to be an effective and sustainable approach to providing enhanced care.
Early results from the pilot project have already demonstrate positive benefits for patients, staff and the organisation. The report demonstrates that was increased family involved with patient care, an increase of 40% to 100%.
This resulted in an increase in patient and family satisfaction. 31% of staff had felt they did not have sufficient skills in the provision of enhanced care before the training programme, this increased to 100% of staff reported having sufficient skills following the bespoke training programme. One of the most significant outcomes from this report is that during the pilot project the number of agency hours used reduced by 40%, despite the 23% increase in demand for this type of care during that time period. If this model had not been implemented the increase in demand would have resulted in a projected €400,000 additional spend.
Ongoing measurement, evaluation, and dissemination of findings have facilitated staff engagement and recommendations for further development.
Minister Harris concluded “This pilot project has improved the way Enhanced Care is provided to patients, and I fully support other organisations adopting this model of care. I also welcome the ongoing collaboration between the Chief Nursing Office in Department of Health in Dublin, and the Chief Nursing Office in Northern Ireland to establish shared principles and recommendations for the provision of enhanced care as part of an all-island approach.”
