Children and youth with complex care needs require more and varied healthcare services than the average population, as well as a high degree of coordinated care. Evidence has shown that these individuals and their families have better outcomes if they have access to integrated care. Patient navigation can serve as a novel approach to improve the integration of care for individuals with complex care needs in an increasingly fragmented system. NaviCare/SoinsNavi is an example of a navigation centre for children and youth with complex care needs, their families, and the care team. This research-based service is aimed at facilitating more convenient and integrated care using a personalized family-centred approach. NaviCare/SoinsNavi employs two patient navigators who work with clients to formulate and prioritize goals based on their unmet needs. The centre serves as a living laboratory, which provides researchers, knowledge users, and clients a real life setting where innovative ideas can be explored, evaluated, modified as needed throughout the research process, and moved into policy in an efficient manner. Patient navigation programs can contribute to decreasing fragmentation, improving access, and promoting integrated care across disciplines, settings, and sectors for individuals across the lifespan.

IntroductionSignificant evidence in the literature supports case management (CM) as an effective intervention to improve care for patients with complex healthcare needs. However, there is still little evidence about the facilitators and barriers to CM implementation in primary care setting. The three specific objectives of this study are to: (1) identify the facilitators and barriers of CM implementation in primary care clinics across Canada; (2) explain and understand the relationships between the actors, contextual factors, mechanisms and outcomes of the CM intervention; (3) identify the next steps towards CM spread in primary care across Canada.Methods and analysisWe will conduct a multiple-case embedded mixed methods study. CM will be implemented in 10 primary care clinics in five Canadian provinces. Three different units of analysis will be embedded to obtain an in-depth understanding of each case: the healthcare system (macro level), the CM intervention in the clinics (meso level) and the individual/patient (micro level). For each objective, the following strategy will be performed: (1) an implementation analysis, (2) a realist evaluation and (3) consensus building among stakeholders using the Technique for Research of Information by Animation of a Group of Experts method.Ethics and disseminationThis study, which received ethics approval, will provide innovative knowledge about facilitators and barriers to implementation of CM in different primary care jurisdictions and will explain how and why different mechanisms operate in different contexts to generate different outcomes among frequent users. Consensual and prioritised statements about next steps for spread of CM in primary care from the perspectives of all stakeholders will be provided. Our results will offer context-sensitive explanations that can better inform local practices and policies and contribute to improve the health of patients with complex healthcare needs who frequently use healthcare services. Ultimately, this will increase the performance of healthcare systems and specifically mitigate ineffective use and costs.

Background: An increasing number of children have complex care needs (CCN) that impact their health and cause limitations in their lives. More of these youth are transitioning from paediatric to adult healthcare due to complex conditions being increasingly associated with survival into adulthood. Typically, the transition process is plagued by barriers, which can lead to adverse health consequences. There is an increased need for transitional care interventions when moving from paediatric to adult healthcare. To date, literature associated with this process for youth with CCN and their families has not been systematically examined.Objectives: The objective of this scoping review is to map the range of programmes in the literature that support youth with CCN and their families as they transition from paediatric to adult healthcare. Methods:The review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute's methodology for scoping reviews. A search, last run in April 2021, located published articles in PubMed, CINAHL, ERIC, PsycINFO and Social Work Abstracts databases.

ObjectiveThis scoping review aimed to map the range of programmes in the literature to support children and youth with complex care needs and their families during transitions in care in the community.DesignA scoping review of the literature.ContextThis review included programmes that supported the transition in care to home and between settings in the community.Data sourcesWe implemented our strategy to search five databases: (1) PubMed; (2) CINAHL; (3) ERIC; (4) PyscINFO and (5) Social Work Abstracts. The search was last implemented on 29 April 2021.Study selectionOur search results were imported into Covidence Systematic Review Software. First, two reviewers assessed titles and abstracts against our eligibility criteria. Relevant articles were then retrieved in full and reviewed by two reviewers for inclusion. Disagreements were resolved by a third reviewer.Data extractionRelevant data were extracted related to population, concept, context, methods and key findings pertinent to our review objective.ResultsA total of 2482 records were identified. After our two-stage screening process, a total of 27 articles were included for analysis. Articles ranged in the type of transitions being supported and target population. The most common transition reported was the hospital-to-home transition. Intervention components primarily consisted of care coordination using a teams-based approach. The most reported barriers and enablers to implementing these transition care programmes were related to physical opportunities.LimitationsIncluded articles were limited to English and French.ConclusionsThis review identified important gaps within the literature, as well as areas for future consideration to ensure the effective development and implementation of programmes to support children and youth with complex care needs during transitions in care.