Improving the quality of life of patients and families begins with a sense of support and a seamless experience between institutions. A number of projects have been developed within the scope of MUSCO to allow patients and their families to feel supported and to streamline and facilitate the corresponding administrative procedures. This involves providing tools and resources to improve logistics and families’ experiences throughout their care trajectory.

MUSCO Projects
Collaboration

Patient Trajectory

Project leader

Kelly Thorstad Director of Nursing and Patient Services, Shriners Hospitals for Children — Canada

The project

Define a clear, transparent process for transferring patients

MUSCO Strategic Goal

Guide the patients and their families toward the appropriate care and services.

Project Objectives

  1. 1

    Define a clearer and more understandable pathway for patients

  2. 2

    Provide better access to information for families, enabling them to better understand their child’s health status and the healthcare system

  3. 3

    Enable families to identify available resources more effectively and provide them with all necessary documentation at the time of admission

  4. 4

    Improve access to patient-specific care with the appropriate specialists

  5. 5

    Provide more effective care and treatment for patients in the short, medium and long term

  6. 6

    Improve the patient experience and family satisfaction, including facilitated planning for families

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Progress Report

Progress Report
Progress Report
Progress Report
Progress Report
Progress Report
Progress Report
Progress Report
Progress Report
Workshop animated by Meilleur Monde's team
Workshop animated by Meilleur Monde's team
Workshop animated by Meilleur Monde's team

The project is divided into four phases and is currently in Phase 1:

  • Phase 1 : Needs analysis: Diagnosis of existing pathways and data collection from professionals and families
  • Phase 2: Co-creation of solutions
  • Phase 3 : Implementation of solutions and monitoring of changes in clinical and organizational processes
  • Phase 4 : Evaluation of the impact on patients/families, professionals, institutions and the healthcare system, and adjustments to the solutions as required

A research and evaluation process called My Way/Mon Chemin was developed under the scientific direction of Dr. Marie Beauséjour to support several of these phases to help achieve the stated objectives. It is now being supported by local reseach teams supervised by Dr. Stefan Parent (CHU Sainte-Justine), Dr. Argerie Tsimicalis (Shriners Hospitals for Children — Canada) and Dr. Janet Rennick (Montreal Children’s Hospital) who, as local contributors, will enable the implementation of the project in each of the partner institutions. This study is also based on an integrated approach with the social design agency Meilleur Monde.

In Phase 1, the following key actions were completed:

  • Several workshops and analyses led to the mapping of the cross-institutional pathways for three care profiles: (1) spinal surgery, (2) general orthopedic surgery for patients with a motor developmental disorder, and (3) rhizotomy.
  • Several efforts have allowed to obtain the first approvals from different ethics committees of the various institutions. Data collection has begun in each of the facilities, and focus groups are being organized with professionals to complement questionnaires, as well as individual interviews with families identified as having a care pathway relevant to the study.
  • In parallel to this crucial stage of data collection and individual and/or group interviews, and pending the results and their analysis, the working group has already identified Quick Wins to be implemented. These have been rolled out within the institutions by the Inter-establishment Navigators.