A successful rehabilitation service for older amputees at Waikato Hospital.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse changes in outcomes following introduction of a new service for older amputees at Waikato Hospital.


METHODS
Regular weekly visits by a geriatrician to a vascular surgical ward were made. Patient characteristics and hospital outcomes were recorded.


RESULTS
Over 3 consecutive years mean overall hospital length of stay for people seen by the service has fallen from 50.4 days in the first year to 37.4 in the second year and 35.2 days in the third year.


CONCLUSIONS
A proactive liaison service for older amputees seems to improve hospital outcomes in this challenging group of patients.
Weatherall
M
M
Health Walkato Ltd, Hamilton.
D000368:Aged; D000674:Amputees / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005265:Femoral Neck Fractures / Q000601:surgery; D006748:Hospital Departments; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers