Implementation and Impacts of Virtual Team-based Care Planning for Older Persons in Formal Care Settings: A Scoping Review

Overview

Journal Digit Health

Specialty Medical Informatics

Date 2023 Jan 30

PMID 36714541

Authors

Harrison Gao

Marie-Lee Yous

Denise Connelly

Lillian Hung

Anna Garnett

Melissa Hay

Nancy Snobelen

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: This scoping review aimed to summarize current knowledge about the implementation, impacts, facilitators and barriers of virtual team-based care planning for older persons in formal care settings (e.g. home and community, primary, long-term and acute care).

Methods: The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology was used. The Arksey and O'Malley and Levac, Colquhoun, and O'Brien methodologies provided additional frameworks. Databases accessed included PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, AgeLine, PsycInfo and Scopus. Reference lists of selected articles and grey literature retrieved through Google and Google Scholar were also reviewed. Three researchers screened titles, abstracts and conducted full-text reviews. Extracted data were mapped in a table and analysed for summative themes. Older persons and family partners assisted in interpreting findings based on their lived experiences.

Results: A total of 27 studies were included. Virtual team-based care planning led to many positive outcomes for older persons (e.g. decreased depression, reduced falls and improved medication management) and their families (e.g. reduced caregiver stress and improved caregiving skills). Only four studies reported the involvement of older persons and/or families in virtual team-based care planning. Multiple barriers to adopting virtual team-based care planning were found including lack of education/training for older persons and families in using technology.

Conclusion: Despite the multiple advantages that virtual team-based care planning offers for older persons and families, it is important to ensure that this care can be offered to all. There is a need to ensure that health equity is addressed to promote access to care and respond to social determinants of health.

Citing Articles

Demand, utilization, and supply of community smart senior care services for older people in China.

Fa R, Jin S, Fan P, Tang F, Jin Q, Wang C Digit Health. 2025; 11():20552076241293641.

PMID: 39777056 PMC: 11705331. DOI: 10.1177/20552076241293641.

Virtual Care Appointments and Experience Among Older Rural Patients with Chronic Conditions in New South Wales: An Analysis of Existing Survey Data.

Price E, Hamiduzzaman M, McLennan V, Williams C, Flood V Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2025; 21(12.

PMID: 39767517 PMC: 11675083. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21121678.

References

Lopez A, Lam K, Thota R . Barriers and Facilitators to Telemedicine: Can You Hear Me Now?. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book. 2021; 41:25-36. DOI: 10.1200/EDBK_320827. View

Silsand L, Severinsen G, Berntsen G . Preservation of Person-Centered Care Through Videoconferencing for Patient Follow-up During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Case Study of a Multidisciplinary Care Team. JMIR Form Res. 2021; 5(3):e25220. PMC: 7939056. DOI: 10.2196/25220. View

Powers B, Homer M, Morone N, Edmonds N, Rossi M . Creation of an Interprofessional Teledementia Clinic for Rural Veterans: Preliminary Data. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2017; 65(5):1092-1099. DOI: 10.1111/jgs.14839. View

Tang W, Chiu H, Woo J, Hjelm M, Hui E . Telepsychiatry in psychogeriatric service: a pilot study. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2001; 16(1):88-93. DOI: 10.1002/1099-1166(200101)16:1<88::aid-gps282>3.0.co;2-w. View

Shaw J, Brewer L, Veinot T . Recommendations for Health Equity and Virtual Care Arising From the COVID-19 Pandemic: Narrative Review. JMIR Form Res. 2021; 5(4):e23233. PMC: 8023377. DOI: 10.2196/23233. View

Sklar T, Robertson C . Telehealth for an Aging Population: How Can Law Influence Adoption Among Providers, Payors, and Patients?. Am J Law Med. 2020; 46(2-3):311-324. DOI: 10.1177/0098858820933501. View

Farris G, Sircar M, Bortinger J, Moore A, Krupp J, Marshall J . Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes-Care Transitions: Enhancing Geriatric Care Transitions Through a Multidisciplinary Videoconference. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2016; 65(3):598-602. DOI: 10.1111/jgs.14690. View

Rush K, Hatt L, Gorman N, Janicki L, Polasek P, Shay M . Planning Telehealth for Older Adults With Atrial Fibrillation in Rural Communities: Understanding Stakeholder Perspectives. Clin Nurs Res. 2018; 28(2):130-149. DOI: 10.1177/1054773818758170. View

Conn D, Madan R, Lam J, Patterson T, Skirten S . Program evaluation of a telepsychiatry service for older adults connecting a university-affiliated geriatric center to a rural psychogeriatric outreach service in Northwest Ontario, Canada. Int Psychogeriatr. 2013; 25(11):1795-800. DOI: 10.1017/S104161021300118X. View

10.

Donnelly C, Ashcroft R, Bobbette N, Mills C, Mofina A, Tran T . Interprofessional primary care during COVID-19: a survey of the provider perspective. BMC Fam Pract. 2021; 22(1):31. PMC: 7857097. DOI: 10.1186/s12875-020-01366-9. View

11.

Zalewski K, Dvorak L . Barriers to physical activity between adults with stroke and their care partners. Top Stroke Rehabil. 2011; 18 Suppl 1:666-75. DOI: 10.1310/tsr18s01-666. View

12.

Clay A, Parsh B . Patient- and Family-Centered Care: It's Not Just for Pediatrics Anymore. AMA J Ethics. 2016; 18(1):40-4. DOI: 10.1001/journalofethics.2016.18.1.medu3-1601. View

13.

Gao H, Yous M, Connelly D, Hung L, Garnett A, Hay M . Virtual team-based care planning with older persons in formal care settings: a scoping review protocol. BMJ Open. 2021; 11(11):e054900. PMC: 8595297. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054900. View

14.

Johansson G, Eklund K, Gosman-Hedstrom G . Multidisciplinary team, working with elderly persons living in the community: a systematic literature review. Scand J Occup Ther. 2009; 17(2):101-16. DOI: 10.1080/11038120902978096. View

15.

Office E, Rodenstein M, Merchant T, Pendergrast T, Lindquist L . Reducing Social Isolation of Seniors during COVID-19 through Medical Student Telephone Contact. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2020; 21(7):948-950. PMC: 7274632. DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2020.06.003. View

16.

Emery E, Lapidos S, Eisenstein A, Ivan I, Golden R . The BRIGHTEN program: implementation and evaluation of a program to bridge resources of an interdisciplinary geriatric health team via electronic networking. Gerontologist. 2012; 52(6):857-65. DOI: 10.1093/geront/gns034. View

17.

Malone M, Vollbrecht M, Stephenson J, Burke L, Pagel P, Goodwin J . AcuteCare for Elders (ACE) tracker and e-Geriatrician: methods to disseminate ACE concepts to hospitals with no geriatricians on staff. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2010; 58(1):161-7. PMC: 4018651. DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2009.02624.x. View

18.

Aidoud A, Poupin P, Gana W, Nkodo J, Debacq C, Dubnitskiy-Robin S . Helping Nursing Homes to Manage the COVID-19 Crisis: An Illustrative Example from France. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2020; 68(11):2475-2477. DOI: 10.1111/jgs.16780. View

19.

Moore A, Krupp J, Dufour A, Sircar M, Travison T, Abrams A . Improving Transitions to Postacute Care for Elderly Patients Using a Novel Video-Conferencing Program: ECHO-Care Transitions. Am J Med. 2017; 130(10):1199-1204. DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2017.04.041. View

20.

Emery-Tiburcio E, Mack L, Lattie E, Lusarreta M, Marquine M, Vail M . Managing Depression among Diverse Older Adults in Primary Care: The BRIGHTEN Program. Clin Gerontol. 2017; 40(2):88-96. DOI: 10.1080/07317115.2016.1224785. View