title: Intermediate care. A suitable case for treatment?
abstract: A study of emergency referrals to GPs and hospital accident and emergency departments from nursing homes found that most were appropriate. The most usual reasons for referral were chest infections and changes in medication. Referrals were fewer than five a month per nursing home. Protocols for emergency referrals could improve consistency of care.
authors.affiliation: Sefton Health Authority.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaatar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013222:State Medicine; D006113:United Kingdom