Communication, Connection and Care: Cardiff Community Resource Team (CRT) Remote-Working Experience during the Covid-19 Pandemic – Improving Staff Confidence in the Intermediate Care Setting.

PPE 1108
JE Lewis 1, A Probert 1, A Ferris 1, S White 2, J Butler 1&3
1 Geriatric Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff 2 Geriatric Medicine, University Hospital Llandough, Llandough 3 Community Resource Team, Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff
COVID-19
MDT

Abstract

Introduction

The Covid19 pandemic represents an unprecedented challenge to global health and care services and necessitated a rapid shift towards healthcare being provided remotely.1 A quality improvement project was conducted in Cardiff CRT to improve staff confidence in relation to remote-working to optimise the care of older patients in the community.

 

Objectives

  • To integrate the use of technology in intermediate care in Cardiff CRT

 

Method

A survey was sent to Cardiff CRT staff in May 2020. The plan-do-study-act (PDSA) model was used to implement improvement interventions whilst allowing continuous service delivery. These included investment in hardware, updated software, a daily team huddle, increased transparency throughout the Multidisciplinary Team and stricter referral criteria. A follow-up survey was conducted in February 2022.

 

Results

Three key areas for improvement were identified: i) access to resources ii) team communication and iii) access to information.

The majority of respondents (62%) had no experience of remote-working prior to the Covid19 pandemic. Now, telephone consultation (50%), video consultation (19%), email (23%) and other technology (8%) are regularly employed. Self-reported confidence has improved in relation to remote-working.

Most respondents (56%) reported improved time-management and flexible working (30%) as the primary advantages of remote-working. Isolation from team members (44%) and barriers to communication (44%) were cited as the main disadvantages. 75% of respondents anticipate changing the way they work due to skills learnt during remote-working. Job satisfaction is now lower, however many recognised this was due to pandemic sequelae and other extraneous factors.

 

Conclusion

  • Majority of staff have learnt additional skills and improved confidence in remote-working
  • All staff now employ remote-working in Cardiff CRT and most plan to continue post-pandemic
  • Further training needs have been identified in the virtual intermediate care setting
  • Team communication and isolation remain an issue
  • Job satisfaction has declined during the pandemic

 

References

1 Nuffield Trust

 

 

 

Disclosure of interests: None

 

Key Words:

Covid19, Frailty, Older People, Community, Intermediate Care, Technology