Emergency day hospital assessments.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the use of a geriatric day hospital for emergency multidisciplinary assessment as an alternative to immediate hospital admission for some groups of frail older people.


METHODS
Retrospective study of change in clinical practice.


METHODS
District general hospital.


METHODS
Immediate multidisciplinary assessment of selected patients instead of requested emergency hospital admission.


RESULTS
(1) Data were collected on 67 consecutive referrals. In 63% the patient needs could be met without emergency hospital admission on the day of assessment. (2) Of the 42 patients originally not admitted only 29% were subsequently admitted within the next three months.


CONCLUSIONS
Emergency day hospital assessments can be used as an alternative to immediate hospital admission for some frail older people.
Black
D A
DA
Elderly Medical Unit, Queen Marys Hospital, Sidcup, Kent, UK.
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003631:Day Care, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006767:Hospitals, District / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D006113:United Kingdom; D014600:Utilization Review