Moving Knowledge Into Action
One in two adults with DD in Ontario will visit the emergency department at least once in two years. They are also more likely than other adults to visit the ED and have repeat visits. ED visits are stressful for those with DD, their caregivers, and ED staff. It doesn't have to be this way - The quality of ED visits can improve with better recognition, communication, planning and linkages between hospital and community resources.
We developed and intervention to improve emergency care. It included training and educating clinicians about recognizing people with DD, adapting care practices, and changing the way discharge information is communicated and shared between ED and the community. With an aim to change practice, we evaluated our own implementation success, and fostered solutions for service providers. We found ED staff improved in terms of awareness of strategies to identify patients with DD and adapt their care, and in their comfort for working with these patients, but also identified areas where more work is needed. Learn more about how you can improve emergency care in your setting; click the 'watch the video' button below, or read the snapshot.
|
Here is a toolkit we developed that walks you through how to change practice with emergency care providers interested in improving care for this population. Share this toolkit widely. Use the resources in this toolkit as a whole, or pick the pieces that suit your needs, goals, and existing resources. Download the toolkit 
