Pop-up micro clinics for pre-exposure prophylaxis of immunocompromised patients

• Published in: Journal of integrated care (Brighton, England) Vol. 32; no. 2; pp. 213 - 220
• Main Authors: Chan, Ryan J., Isaacksz, Shiran, Low, Brian, Raymond, Cecile, Seeton, Lori, Chan, Christopher T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brighton Emerald Publishing Limited 26.04.2024; Emerald Group Publishing Limited
• Subjects: Access; Acute services; Centralization; Chronic illnesses; Clinics; Community; Community health care; Cost analysis; COVID-19; COVID-19 vaccines; Disease prevention; Drug dosages; Health care access; Health care expenditures; Health services; Health status; High risk; Infrastructure; Integrated approach; Integrated care; Interdisciplinary aspects; Organizational effectiveness; Pandemics; Partnerships; Patient-centered care; Patients; Public health; Quality of care; Respiratory syncytial virus; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Social services; Social services delivery; Stem cells; Transplants & implants; Canada; Pop up micro clinics; Integrated health care systems; System response; Patient-centered care
• DOI: 10.1108/JICA-01-2024-0003
• ISSN: 1476-9018

PurposeHealth care systems aspire to adopt integration strategies shifting the focus from acute care to a broader focus on community-based health and social services. Real-world examples demonstrating effective delivery of integrated care are essential.Design/methodology/approachIn this article, we introduce UHN Connected Care Hub, an innovative model of care comprising an interdisciplinary team designing sustainable, shareable practices across the continuum of care alongside community and health organization partnerships.FindingsWe describe UHN Connected Care Hub’s ability to identify patients from high-risk population and collaborate to delivery timely care, in detailing the real world experience of this model of care in the organization of a centralized system of micro-clinics to administer a therapeutic for pre-exposure prophylaxis against COVID-19 (Tixagevimab/cilgavimab [Evusheld]) in a population of immunocompromised patients.Practical implicationsHaving a centralized system of micro-clinics for care delivery presents opportunities for increased adaptability, patient accessibility, enhanced community partnerships and integratedness. Expansion in the scope of services could also create new opportunities in preventative therapies for optimizing the cost effectiveness and quality of health care provided at the population level.Originality/valueThere is limited evidence on how to efficiently deliver integrated care, particularly to vulnerable and co-morbid patients. We discuss how dynamic organizations with proper infrastructure and a network of healthcare partnerships may allow a more fluid response to rapidly changing policies and procedures and facilitate preparedness for future health care crises or pandemics.