[On-call physicians in nursing homes].
BACKGROUND
Patients in Norwegian nursing homes are old and multimorbid; they often need emergency treatment and regular medical follow-up is a must. The aim of the study was to investigate reasons for contacting a physician and to find out if unnecessary hospitalization can be reduced.


METHODS
The study took place at Bergen Red Cross Nursing home, which has 174 patients in long-term wards, dementia wards, a short-term ward and a palliative care ward. Contacts to on-call nursing home physicians were recorded (time, ward, problem and measures taken) and assessed in a prospective study of 4 months duration.


RESULTS
319 calls were registered during the 107-day study period, and these resulted in 187 active working hours (92.5 hours for the palliative care unit). Active working hours per patient/week by ward were 0.32 hours for the palliative care unit, 0.07 hours for the short-term ward and 0.03 hours for the long-term wards. Frequent problems were counselling/information (24 %), the abdomen (14 %), the nervous system (13 %), airways (12 %), pain (11 %) and cardiovascular disease (7 %). Admission to a hospital could have been prevented for nine patients.


CONCLUSIONS
All wards at Bergen Red Cross Nursing home use the 24-hour on-call service frequently. Nursing homes should offer such services to ensure acute and competent treatment and avoid unnecessary transport and hospitalisation.
Bollig
Georg
G
georg.bollig@brks.no Bergen Røde Kors Sykehjem Ellerhusensvei 35 5043 Bergen.
Husebø
Bettina Sandgathe
BS
Husebø
Stein
S
D039602:After-Hours Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D009664:Norway; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies