Evaluation of Mobile X-ray Within the Triple Aim Method

Background:

In foreign countries, mobile x-ray already is being used where transfer to the radiology department at the hospital may be an obstacle. Using mobile x-ray, the x-ray examination is performed in the patients own home with transportable equipment that reminds of the transportable x-ray equipment that is being used in the intensive care units. At The Department of Radiology (DOR), Aarhus University Hospital there is an ongoing project mobile x-ray for patients living in nursing homes in Aarhus. The project will be evaluated inspired by the Triple Aim Approach in three sub studies.

Overall aim:

The overall aim is to conclude if mobile x-ray improves healthcare for fragile patients.

Hypotheses:

• Patients examined with mobile x-ray have fewer number of hospital admissions compared with patients examined with x-ray at DOR.
• Patients examined with mobile x-ray are more satisfied with their examination compared with patients examined with x-ray at DOR.

Sub study 1 - Population health

Aim:

The primary aim is to study if mobile x-ray improves the health of the defined population measured in hospital admission. Also to study challenges conducting a RCT.

The outcome measures:

The primary outcome is hospital admissions.

Sub study 2 - Experience of care

Aim:

The aim is to study the satisfaction with mobile x-ray compared the satisfaction to x-ray at DOR.

Methods:

Observations, interview and questionnaires.