title: [From the nursing home to hospital and back again… A mixed methods study on hospital transfers from nursing homes].
abstract: Hospital transfers from nursing homes are frequent, costly, often preventable, and can have negative effects on the residents' health. The present study investigated the current situation in Carinthia (Austria) regarding the characteristics of relocated nursing home residents, the proportion of avoidable transfers, the consequences of relocation from the physicians' and nurses' perspectives and ways for improving nursing home care. Retrospectively, the documentations of a regional hospital (N=4149), a rescue service (N=10754), and a social insurance agency (N=7051) were analysed; qualitative interviews with physicians (N=25) and nursing administrators (N=16) were conducted. A considerable proportion of these transports seemed to be avoidable: for example, about 40% of the ambulatory treatments in the emergency department of the investigated hospital were inappropriate. Options for improving the current situation will be discussed.
authors.affiliation: Fachhochschule Kärnten, Studienbereich Gesundheit und Pflege. o.kada@fh-kaernten.at
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kada
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brunner
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Likar
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pinter
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Leutgeb
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Francisci
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Janig
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001317:Austria; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011157:Population Dynamics; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data