ObjectiveHospital-to-home (H2H) transitions challenge families of children with medical complexity (CMC) and healthcare professionals (HCP). This study aimed to gain deeper insights into the H2H transition process and to work towards eHealth interventions for its improvement, by applying an iterative methodology involving both CMC families and HCP as end-users.MethodsFor 20-weeks, the Dutch Transitional Care Unit consortium collaborated with the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, HCP, and CMC families. The agile SCREAM approach was used, merging Design Thinking methods into five iterative sprints to stimulate creativity, ideation, and design. Continuous communication allowed rapid adaptation to new information and the refinement of solutions for subsequent sprints.ResultsThis iterative process revealed three domains of care – care coordination, social wellbeing, and emotional support – that were important to all stakeholders. These domains informed the development of our final prototype, ‘Our Care Team’, an application tailored to meet the H2H transition needs for CMC families and HCP.ConclusionComplex processes like the H2H transition for CMC families require adaptive interventions that empower all stakeholders in their respective roles, to promote transitional care that is anticipatory, rather than reactive.InnovationA collaborative methodology is needed, that optimizes existing resources and knowledge, fosters innovation through collaboration while using creative digital design principles. This way, we might be able to design eHealth solutions with end-users, not just for them.
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In this case study, we want to gain insights into how residents of three municipalities communicate about the new murder scenario of the cold case of Marianne Vaatstra and the possibility of a large-scale DNA familial searching. We investigate how stakeholders shape their arguments in conversation with each other and with the police. We investigate the repertoires that participants use to achieve certain effects in their interactions with others in three focus groups. The results show that the analyzed repertoires are strong normative orientated. We see two aspects emerge that affect the support for large-scale DNA familial searching. These are: 1. Cautious formulations: respondents showed restraint in making personal judgments and often formulated these on behalf of others. Participants would not fully express themselves, but adjusted to what seemed the socially desirable course. 2. Collective identity: respondents focused on the similarities between themselves and the needs, interests, and goals of other participants. Participants also tried in a discursive way to convince each other to participate in the large-scale familial searching. These two major discursive activities offered the communication discipline guidance for interventions into the subsequent communication strategy.
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Problems with communication and collaboration among perinatal caregivers threaten the quality and safety of care given to mothers and babies. Good communication and collaboration are critical to safe care for mothers and babies. In this study the researchers focused on studies examining the factors associated with good communication and collaboration as they occur in working routines in maternity care practice. Their study is part of a growing trend of identifying the positive aspects of communication and collaboration in maternity care.
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