CONNECARE-Assuta-Case Study 1

The European Union's Horizon 2020 project issued a Call for Action [1] in December 2013 to design, develop, disseminate and evaluate new IT technologies for use in integrative treatment processes, with emphasis on complex adult patient. Assuta Hospital submitted a proposal for this call, as part of a broad consortium of 10 participants from various European countries. The CONNECARE consortium has formulated a general model for integrative treatment, and is currently in the technological development stages, to create a smart (supportive decision) and adaptive system that supports integrative treatment processes both in the hospital and in the community for personalized treatment in complex chronic patients. The development includes a significant integrative component of self-care management by the patient and / or the primary caregiver. Following the completion of the technological development, clinical trials will be held in four organizations throughout Europe - Assuta Hospital in Ashdod in cooperation with the Maccabi community in Ashdod, two centers in Catalonia and the Groningen region in the Netherlands. The purpose of the studies is to assess the impact of the implementation of the model, processes and digital tools that will be built during the project.

The intervention in this study consists of two parts: Integrative treatment in the community, which includes a close follow-up with a coordinating nurse for three months after discharge from the hospital. Empowering the patient to self-manage his or her health by using applications for smart devices. The study protocol: Recruitment of participants during the patient's hospitalization after the patient is identified as a complex patient, explanation of the study and signing the consent form. Evaluation process for the patient, using valid questionnaires, in order to determine the baseline level at the entrance to the study. Distribution of research kit and related accessories and training. Close monitoring for three months in the community after discharge from the hospital and use of the research kit. Reassessment of the patient at the exit of the study.

Implementing the Connecare system to support integrated care for complex patients with an unplanned admission to Assuta Ashdod who are discharged back to the community with an emphasis on Connecare self managment system for the patient and close follow up and coordination of all of the medical, health and social care in the community by a Maccabi integrated care nurse for a period of 3 months post discharge.

The control group will be selected from Maccabi's database and will be patients who are matched 1:1 with the intervention sample and live in another community similar to Ashdod in socioeconomic characteristics who undergo the same elective major surgery in other hospitals

The CONNECARE SMS will rely on a hybrid solution that, besides being autonomous (the patient may use the SMS to monitor and access to her/his data and information), has also a collaborative component (through the interaction with the SACM) to allow participation by clinicians and to provide feedback to them. In so doing, the patient may control her/his activity, receiving recommendations to improve the treatment and to be encouraged in following it.

At the time of discharge from the hospital, the patient receives a list of tasks to be performed as part of the release letter. We would like to know how many out of this tasks were carried out

Number of appointments made by the patient during the follow up time for primary physician, professionals, laboratory tests and imaging, physiotherapy and nutritionist.

Using questionnaires for nurses and patients to express their opinion on the use of the technology systems in the project and how much these systems assisted them

Economic evaluation of tests and services saved as a result of active and orderly monitoring of the patient

Assessment of satisfaction of patients from all the projects components (The follow up and the technology systems)

Assessment of satisfaction of medical staff from all the projects components (The follow up and the technology systems)

Inclusion Criteria: All Maccabi members who arrive at the ER in an unplanned manner Age over 65 Living in a home and not in a nursing home LACE> 7 At least three of the following conditions: Multiple drugs - regular use of four or more drugs More than one case of hospitalization or visit to the ER in the past year Malnutrition Elements of low socio-economic status The patient and / or the main caregiver speak Hebrew, English or Russian The patient or primary caregiver has a password to the Maccabi Online website The patient and / or the primary caregiver have basic technological knowledge in the use of the applications The patient has wireless Internet access at home (via Wifi or through a cellular connection) Exclusion Criteria: Patients with cognitive or dementia problems

https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/opportunities/h2020/topics/phc-25-2015.html