title: The unexpected relocation of elderly in-patients in response to a threatened strike.
abstract: A threatened strike by non-professional hospital employees caused a teaching hospital to halve its in-patient numbers. This paper describes this unexpected, involuntary intervention in patient care in the Department of Geriatric Medicine. Fifty-three patients were discharged, 46 patients were transferred for 12 days to another hospital and 29 remained in the department. There was no evidence of important disruption in patient-care nor exacerbation of patient-distress as seen in ratings of patients' social, emotional and physical functioning. It is suggested that important factors in achieving successful unexpected relocation are: selection of patients who are medically stable albeit with significant physical and mental disability; the preparation and participation of patients and staff; and the continuation of patient care by nursing staff familiar to the patients.
authors.affiliation: Section of Geriatric Medicine, University of Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Christie
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mitchell-Pedersen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rauscher
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D008350:Manitoba; D009731:Nursing Audit; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000592:standards*; D009737:Nursing Records; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000600:supply & distribution; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010358:Patient Participation; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013317:Strikes, Employee