Grant: Fellowship - PA: Regional Partnership Program - New Brunswick

There are a number of problems that are known to occur when residents of long-term care (LTC) facilities transfer to a hospital Emergency Department (ED) and later return to LTC. Assumptions about roles and miscommunicaton between staff of both care settings regularly occur and result in medical errors and fragmented care. These negative outcomes are of particular concern to women who comprise a large portion of the LTC care population and of the caregivers in both LTC and the ED. Although our knowledge of older women's health is increasing, little is known about the role gender plays in the transitional experiences of older adults who move between settings of care. In this research, a gendered analysis of resident transfers between LTC and a hospital ED will be conducted. Findings from this study will help refine or develop new clinical practice strategies that will support older women and the health care providers who care for them during their care transitions. Findings will contribute to a more efficient use of precious health care resources. Because this research also involves a detailed examination of Institutional Ethnography, it will strengthen our ability to understand the everyday experiences of people in a wide range of health situations, including, but not limited to, those who transition between other healthcare settings and providers.