Telephone follow up for older people discharged from A&E.
This article reports on a pilot study to evaluate the benefits of providing a telephone follow-up service for patients over 75 years discharged directly from A&E. A liaison nurse retrieved details of patients from the department's attendance records and, wherever possible, telephoned the patient/carer/family to assess how they were coping following discharge. Advice and reassurance were offered as required and referrals made to the relevant statutory/voluntary agencies as appropriate. The author highlights a range of benefits from the service and recommends that such a service could be tailored to the needs of the local population.
Allen
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Nightingale Institute.
D000368:Aged; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010359:Patient Readmission; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013689:Telephone