Title:
Integration of hospital social services and accident insurance visiting: Evaluation of an ongoing pre-operative study.
Project management at the University of Würzburg:
Participating scientists:
Abstract:
The German statutory accident insurance has recently taken substantial measures to ensure and improve quality management efforts in medical care and rehabilitation. In this context, the 'Bundesverband der Unfallkassen' (German federal association of accident insurance funds) has initiated a pre-operative study beginning in July 2005 which aims at further integrating local hospital social services into the organizational structures of the accident insurances´ health care system. This is due to a substantial overlap between the scope of duties and functions of hospital social services and tasks that are fulfilled by the accident insurances´ visiting staff that regularly takes care of accident patients.
The study aims at optimizing communication structures and realizing synergy effects by taking advantage of local network structures comprising hospital social services, patients, physicians, and care providers. Patients should immediately receive professional advice; accident insurance funds should be enabled to initiate necessary interventions as soon as possible.
50 Accident and Emergency (A&E) hospitals that are in charge of a minor number of accident patients located all over Germany participate in the study. A scientific evaluation of the study is conducted by the Institute of Psychotherapy and Medical Psychology, Section of Rehabilitation Sciences. This approach shall provide process- and outcome-related data which allow a comprehensive evaluation of the strengths and potentials of the project.
Hospital social services complete a report form containing patient-related information which is sent to the respective accident insurance. Report forms are accompanied by a checklist to be filled out by accident insurance administrators. In order to evaluate project outcome parameters, comparative data are needed. Data are obtained by drawing a random sample of n = 100 medical cases. These are assessed and analyzed by accident insurance administrators using a documentation form.
Project implementation and procedures are documented and evaluated by process-related measurement. Additionally, the project-related expense for participating hospitals is assessed by conducting semi-structured interviews with social services staff and accident insurance employees.
Following the evaluation, a symposium with participating social services and accident insurance funds staff is planned.
Until May 2006, evaluation data are analyzed by the Institute of Psychotherapy and Medical Psychology to suggest recommendations regarding the regular integration of hospital social services and accident insurance visiting procedures.
Key words:
health services research
accident insurance
social services
hospital
Projekt period: from 11.2005 to 05.2006
Funding institution:
Sonstige öffentliche Mittel ( Bundesverband der Unfallkassen )