Alternatives to the admission of some elderly patients to acute medical beds.
There is evidence that admission to an acute medical ward is not the best way to look after many elderly patients. This study investigated 83 general practitioners' preferences for the management of 200 elderly patients admitted to the medical beds at Wellington Hospital. For 63.5% of the patients this admission had been by their own doctor and 84% of these patients had been cared for by this doctor for longer than one year. Admission to an acute medical bed was the preferred option for only 48% of patients. Augmented home care was considered a possible option for 31.5% of patients but was mentioned as one of the preferred options for only 9.0%. Admission to a general practitioner bed was the preferred option for 16.5% of patients. The results of this study suggest that area health boards should provide more choices for the management of acute illness in elderly patients.
Durham
J
J
Unit of General Practice, Wellington School of Medicine.
Durham
G
G
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003657:Decision Making; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards*