Quality Research Homepage

Quality Research Initiative

Overview

Research on quality is essential to the Partnership Program’s design, development and model improvement. As part of the Partnership Program’s demonstration period, the Department of Health and Family Services contracted with a team of researchers from the University of Wisconsin to document and analyze the evolution of the program, specifically examining how to provide high quality, consumer centered care in integrated care settings. The Partnership Quality Research Team produced a variety of research based materials focused on quality care, and the practical and conceptual challenges to providing integrated care. The research products reflect the perspectives of frail elderly consumers, consumers who have chronic illness, and consumers who have physical disabilities, their caregivers, as well as health and long term care providers. The research team has also developed several tools designed to assist organizations providing community based, coordinated services to vulnerable populations. To download their materials, please click here: Quality Research Initiative Research Products

Quality Research Team

Dr. Barbara Bowers, a nurse sociologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Nursing, directed the team with assistance by Research Program Manager, Sarah Esmond. A variety of University of Wisconsin-Madison faculty, staff and graduate students participated on the team, examining a range of issues related to the provision of integrated care. The availability of expertise from a variety of disciplines including nursing, social work, preventive medicine, education, child and family studies, and public health policy and administration has resulted in research based products that reflect an interdisciplinary approach to understanding integrated care provision.

Research Methods

The primary methods of data collection on quality care in the Partnership program included interviewing participants in the program and conducting participant observation in a variety of community based care settings and policy arenas.

The research team conducted approximately 150 interviews with program members, consumers outside of the program (for comparative purposes), health and long term care providers, family members and other caregivers, and administrative and management staff at each Partnership site. Data were analyzed using a grounded dimensional analysis (Glaser & Strauss, 1967; Schatzman, 1991; Bowers, 1990), allowing the researchers to discover and describe the dimensions and core categories of quality as conceptualized by the participants. Analysis of initial interviews was completed before continuing, thereby maximizing the ability to modify subsequent interview questions in response to analysis.

Members of the research team were also invited to take part on several committees across program sites, as well as within the Department of Health and Family Services.

The ability to participate in the development of the project, while simultaneously interviewing staff, recipients of care, and providers has given the Quality Research Team a unique perspective on what is required to provide high quality, consumer centered care. We hope you find these materials useful in your own work, and look forward to hearing from you about how you utilize them. Please provide your feedback to:

Sarah Esmond
E-mail: sesmond@facstaff.wisc.edu
Phone: 608-263-5299

Barbara Bowers
E-Mail: bjbowers@facstaff.wisc.edu
Phone: 608-263-5189

References:

Bowers, B. (1990). Grounded theory. In B. Sarter (Ed.), Paths to Knowledge (pp. 33-59). New York, NY: National League for Nursing Press.

Glaser, B. and Strauss, A. (1967) Discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for Qualitative Research. New York, New York: Alpine Publishing Co.

Schatzman, L. (1991). Dimensional Analysis: Notes in an Alternative Approach to the Grounding of Theory in Qualitative Research. In D. Maines (Ed.), Social Organization and Social Process: Essays in Honor of Anselm Strauss. NY: Aldine de Gruyter.

Quality Research Materials

Quality Care from the Perspective of Elderly Consumers (PDF, 55 KB) 1996. Narrative report of findings based on analysis of interviews with elderly consumers in Wisconsin. Subjects include individuals enrolled in PACE and WPP programs at ElderCare of Dane County, as well as those living independently in the community.

Quality Care from the Perspective of Consumers with Physical Disabilities and their Caregivers (PDF, 95 KB) 1996. Narrative report of findings based on analysis of interviews with individuals with physical disabilities and their caregivers about care experiences.

Interdisciplinary Team Model (PDF, 75 KB) 1996. Narrative report describing the planning, initial development and evolution of the interdisciplinary care team model in the Partnership Program. Includes identification of the complexities involved in providing consumer-centered care in an integrated (health and long term) care setting.

Model Quality Improvement Reviews (PDF, 77 KB) 1997. Designed for use by Partnership sites serving frail elderly and people with physically disabilities, these Reviews provide information to organizations about specific areas of care and service delivery (system level and direct service level) identified by BOTH providers and consumers as important to quality of care and quality of life. Specific review areas include: Integrating Consumer Preferences into Plans of Care, Personal Care Services, Transportation Services, and Monitoring Medication Profiles.
- Quality Research Team’s Consultation with Partnership Sites (PDF, 39 KB) 1997. Report outlines model QI review plans at three Partnership sites
- Quality Research Team’s Review of Model QI Studies Conducted at Partnership Sites (PDF, 34 KB) 1998. Report
  outlines three Partnership site studies, significant findings, and recommendations for future studies. (Individual Partnership site reports are included.)

Member Evaluation (PDF, 77 KB) 1998. This research based evaluation was designed for use by members (consumers) enrolled in integrated care programs to evaluate quality. Evaluation areas, identified by both consumers and health and long term care providers, correspond to quality care/service areas outlined in the Model Quality Improvement Reviews (PDF, 77 KB) 1997 (see above).

Interdisciplinary Team Curriculum (PDF, 256 KB) Two module curriculum focused on providing consumer centered care in integrated (health and long term) care programs.
Module I: Team Members Professional Identification & Cross-Discipline Awareness
Designed to assist team members in understanding discipline-specific attitudes, priorities, logic and expertise and to reflect on the professional expertise on the interdisciplinary team, the similarities and differences among the professionals, and how professional identification can affects practice.
Module II: Providing Consumer-Centered Care
Designed to explore how team members from health and long term care settings conceptualize consumer-centered practice differently, increase appreciation for these differences and demonstrate how these differences can be used in care planning to the benefit of the consumer

Personal Care Services Orientation Outline (PDF, 149 KB) 1998. This outline of recommended orientation and training activities was developed by members of the Partnership Training Steering Committee and integrates many of the Quality Research findings. It is designed for use by administrative staff in charge of developing and conducting personal care staff orientation programs in integrated care settings.