Quality assurance as a foundational element for an integrated system of dementia care: Perspectives from physicians and geriatricians
International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance
ISSN: 0952-6862
Article publication date: 8 July 2019
Abstract
Purpose
Many countries are developing primary care collaborative memory clinics (PCCMCs) to address the rising challenge of dementia. Previous research suggests that quality assurance should be a foundational element of an integrated system of dementia care. The purpose of this paper is to understand physicians’ and specialists’ perspectives on such a system and identify barriers to its implementation.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors used interviews and a constructivist framework to understand the perspectives on a quality assurance framework for dementia care and barriers to its implementation from ten primary care and ten specialist physicians affiliated with PCCMCs.
Findings
Interviewees found that the framework reflects quality dementia care, though most could not relate quality assurance to clinical practice. Quality assurance was viewed as an imposition on practitioners rather than as a measure of system integration. Disparities in resources among providers were seen as barriers to quality care. Greater integration with specialists was seen as a potential quality improvement mechanism. Standardized electronic medical records were seen as important to support both quality assurance and clinical care.
Practical implications
This work identified several challenges to the implementation of a quality assurance framework to support an integrated system of dementia care. Clinicians require education to better understand quality assurance. Additional challenges include inadequate resources, a need for closer collaboration between specialists and PCCMCs, and a need for a standardized electronic medical record.
Originality/value
Greater health system integration is necessary to provide quality dementia care, and quality assurance could be considered a foundational element driving system integration.
Keywords
Citation
Heckman, G.A., Crutchlow, L., Boscart, V., Hillier, L., Franco, B., Lee, L., Molnar, F., Seitz, D. and Stolee, P. (2019), "Quality assurance as a foundational element for an integrated system of dementia care: Perspectives from physicians and geriatricians", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 32 No. 6, pp. 978-990. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHCQA-07-2018-0187
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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