title: Care coordination in the Emergency Department: improving outcomes for older patients.
abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the care coordination (CC) program operating in the Emergency Department (ED) of The Northern Hospital in improving outcomes for older people and reducing ED admissions and re-presentations. This was achieved by comparing admissions from ED to wards pre and post commencement of the CC program, and measuring patient health-related quality of life pre and post CC intervention. Patient readmission rates and staff and patient satisfaction with the service were also investigated. Results indicate a statistically significant reduction in the proportion of patients admitted from the ED to a ward since the inception of the program, a significant difference in the mean-related quality of life scores before and after intervention by care coordination, and staff and patient satisfaction with the service. The readmission data collected in the present evaluation will serve as a baseline measure for future evaluations.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Applied Gerontology, Bundoora Extended Care Centre, Northern Health, 1231 Plenty Road, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia. Helen.Corbett@nh.org.au
authors.forename: Helen M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Corbett
authors.forename: Wen K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Sandra J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Elkins
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019090:Case Management; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006300:Health Services Misuse; D006786:Hospitals, Urban / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017146:Models, Organizational; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010343:Patient Admission; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D014739:Victoria