title: Impact of a personal emergency response system on hospital utilization by community-residing elders.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine whether use of a 24-hour personal emergency response system (PERS) might be associated with selected hospital utilization rates among community-residing users. Utilization rates of 106 patients were reviewed for 1 year before and 1 year after enrollment in the PERS. Self-paired analyses were conducted on number of visits to an emergency department (ED), number of hospital inpatient admissions, and number of inpatient days. During the 1-year follow-up period, those subscribers using the PERS had a statistically significant decrease in per person hospital admissions and inpatient days. No significant differences occurred in ED visits. When indicated, a PERS may be an appropriate environmental prescription.
authors.affiliation: Health Research Associates, Houston, Tex., USA.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Roush
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Teasdale
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kirk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004631:Emergency Medical Service Communication Systems; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged