Implementation and Evaluation of A Health Innovation to Support Medicaid-Insured Individuals Following Hospitalization

This is a prospective single site Type 1 hybrid effectiveness-implementation parallel mixed methods (QUANT + qual) quasi-experimental study. This study design involves simultaneous collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data, giving priority weight to the quantitative data to evaluate program referrals, outcomes, and program fidelity, while qualitative data will evaluate process through detailed descriptions of perspectives of barriers and facilitators faced by health care providers in implementing the THRIVE intervention. Qualitative interviews will also assess stakeholder perspectives of the value of the intervention in addressing health inequities among Medicaid insured individuals cared for in the acute and home care settings. Nesting the qualitative interview within a single-site randomized trial of a the THRIVE intervention will allow us to determine whether the intervention improved primary outcomes (referrals to homecare, 30-day readmission, ED utilization, connection to PCP) and to identify professional and organizational barriers to implementation. Combining these insights with that of effectiveness outcome date will allow consideration for meaningful contextual factors that are viewed as critical to the implementation of THRIVE and subsequent outcomes. Our stepped wedge design with include a randomized roll-out to case managers at Pennsylvania Hospital and the study will be carried out over 18 months. To begin, 5 case managers will be randomized to receive training on the THRIVE clinical pathway. Following training they will be invited to begin offering referrals to the THRIVE clinical pathway. After 2 months the remaining 4 case managers will be trained on the THRIVE intervention and will be able to begin submitting referrals.