Do geriatric programs decrease long-term use of acute care beds?
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the introduction of coordinated geriatric and discharge planning services at teaching and community hospitals in Toronto has changed the number of beds occupied by patients awaiting transfer to long-term care institutions.


METHODS
Retrospective review of social work records for the period 1985-1992.


METHODS
Two tertiary and four primary acute care hospitals in Metropolitan Toronto.


METHODS
Hospitals were matched for location, acuity, and teaching affiliation.


METHODS
The numbers of beds occupied by patients awaiting transfer to nursing homes or chronic care hospitals were noted.


RESULTS
In those teaching and community hospitals that had introduced coordinated geriatric and discharge planning services, there was a reduction in the percentage of beds occupied by patients awaiting long-term care placement (average-51%), whereas in hospitals without geriatric services, the percentage of beds occupied by patients awaiting long-term care placement increased (average + 25%) (P = .05 by Fisher's exact method, 95% confidence limit odds ratio 0, .9999).


CONCLUSIONS
The introduction of coordinated geriatric and discharge planning services was associated with a decrease in the percentage of beds occupied by patients awaiting long-term care in both teaching and community hospitals.
Brymer
C D
CD
Department of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, Canada.
Kohm
C A
CA
Naglie
G
G
Shekter-Wolfson
L
L
Zorzitto
M L
ML
O'Rourke
K
K
Kirkland
J L
JL
D000368:Aged; D001509:Bed Occupancy; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006764:Hospitals, Community / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009864:Ontario; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010360:Patient Transfer; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014850:Waiting Lists