Implementation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation guidelines in elderly care departments across: a survey of 13 hospitals shows wide variability in practice.
OBJECTIVE
The United Kingdom Department of Health advises hospitals that they should implement a policy relating to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) that takes account of published guidelines relating to decision making for resuscitation. We wished to see if these guidelines were leading to implementation of a similar policy in different Elderly Care (EC) departments.


METHODS
The acute and rehabilitation wards in 13 hospitals from the South Thames West region.


METHODS
On one day the notes of all in-patients, over 55 years, under the care of an EC physician were reviewed.


RESULTS
A CPR decision had been made in 465 (47%) of the 990 in-patients, 379 Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) orders were made. The percentage of patients in whom a CPR decision had been made varied from 15 to 97% between departments.


CONCLUSIONS
Implementation of the guidelines for decision making for resuscitation varies greatly across this region of the United Kingdom.
Cauchi
Lisa
L
Department of Elderly Care Medicine, Mayday University Hospital, Croydon CR7 7YE, London, UK.
Vigus
Jane
J
Diggory
Paul
P
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000592:standards*; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006748:Hospital Departments; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged