Fragmentation of care between intensive and primary care settings and opportunities for improvement

Purpose To explore the gaps in care provided across the transitions from the intensive care unit (ICU) to primary care, in order to improve post-ICU care. Methods Semistructured interviews with three participant groups: intensivists, general practitioners (GPs) and patients and carers with framework analysis of textual data were used to investigate experiences of transitions of care post-ICU. Participants were purposively sampled for diversity. Eligible patients were adults, mechanically ventilated for >24 hours, with access to a video-enabled device. Exclusion criteria were non-English speaking and any cognitive/neurological limitation precluding interview participation. Results A total of 46 interviews (15 patients, 8 caregivers, 15 intensivists and 8 GPs) were completed. Eight themes were identified, and categorised into three healthcare tiers. Tier 1, health system factors : (1) fragmentation of care; (2) communication gaps; (3) limited awareness and recognition of issues beyond the ICU; (4) lack of a specialised ICU follow-up pathway; Tier 2, clinician factors : (5) relationships among ICU, hospitals, GPs and patients and carers; (6) need for clinician role definition and clarity in ICU follow-up; Tier 3, patient and carer factors : (7) patient autonomy and self-actualisation and (8) the evolving caregiver role. A conceptual model was developed, highlighting bidirectional feedback loops between hospital and primary care. Conclusion This study identified gaps in care between ICU discharge and reintegration with primary care from the lived experience of patients, caregivers, intensivists and GPs. These data provide foci for future interventional research to improve the integration of care for this vulnerable and underserved cohort.