“I am a caregiver”
Care Continuum
Workforce Transformation
AIC Community Care Excellence Awards
Agency for Integrated Care - Intermediate and Long Term Care
31 December 2024
Encourage at least 20% of admissions to have registered caregivers, enable early Caregiver Training (CGT) to reduce Average. The initiative led to a mindset shift in staff, improving their perception of caregivers’ roles in patient care.
Year Submitted: 2024
Published Date: 31 December 2024
Tags: Care Continuum, Workforce Transformation, Intermediate and Long Term Care ＆ Community Care, Caregiver
About this Content
Aims
Encourage at least 20% of admissions to have registered caregivers, enable early Caregiver Training (CGT) to reduce Average Length of Stay (ALOS) below 28 days.
Background
St. Andrew’s Community Hospital (SACH) introduced 'Wards of Our Future' in 2022 to improve care models, engaging caregivers actively.
Methods
A multidisciplinary team of 45 members collaborated in a 3-day Human-Centred Design Thinking workshop in 2022. They reviewed patient journeys through shadowing and interviews. 12 patients and caregivers were interviewed, leading to the identification of 'Jobs to be Done' (JTBD) to improve care and service. Workstreams were created to address these needs, one of which led the implementation of caregiver engagement.
Results
From zero before this initiative, 27% of rehabilitation patients admitted between July 2023 and Feb 2024 had a registered caregiver. Earlier Caregiver Training (CGT) was conducted, reducing the Average Length of Stay (ALOS) to 22 days (compared to 29 days for those without caregivers). Fall incidents between 8 AM and 8 PM were reduced by 20%.
Conclusion
The initiative led to a mindset shift in staff, improving their perception of caregivers’ roles in patient care. With extended visiting hours and caregiver engagement, complaints about visitation reduced by 67%, and staff abuse cases by patients/NOKs reduced by 48%. The success highlights the importance of early caregiver involvement in rehabilitation.
Lessons Learnt
Mindset shift of staff towards caregivers, improved patient experience, reduced staff abuse cases by 48%.
Keywords
Caregivers, Palliative Care, Day Care, Rehabilitation
Innovators' Details
Innovators' Details
Healthcare Cluster(s) | Agency for Integrated Care - Intermediate and Long Term Care |
Organization(s) Involved | St. Andrew Community Hospital |
Platform(s) | AIC Community Care Excellence Awards |
Healthcare Professional Group(s) | Ancillary Care |
Applicable Specialty or Discipline | Palliative Medicine, Rehabilitation Therapy |
Project Lead(s) | Feng Yan |
Project Member(s) | Galvin Tan |
Connect with this contributor!
Estella Tan - estella_tan@sacs.org.sg