[Orthopedic inpatients--an afflicted and complex patient group].
We studied all patients (n = 147) discharged from the orthopedic wards at Kärnsjukhuset, Skövde, during a four week period. Two thirds had been admitted via emergency rooms, were older, used more medicines and had more diagnoses than the elective patients, and they required a great deal of medical resources. 38% of the emergency patients did not require specific orthopedic care. 47% of these were more than 80 years of age, had several diagnoses, and had been in-patients in at least two departments during the past year. There is a need for enhanced cooperation and information between departments in order to better provide care for elderly patients with more than one diagnosis.
Ortopedkliniken, Kärnsjukhuset, Skövde. h.gauffin@skovde.mail.telia.com
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D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004630:Emergencies; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006751:Hospital Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology; D009985:Orthopedics; D010343:Patient Admission; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D012042:Registries; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology