title: Transitions of care for the geriatric patient in the emergency department.
abstract: This article reviews and summarizes more than 200 studies regarding key issues surrounding the transition of elderly patients to or from the emergency department (ED), with particular attention paid to the relationship between the ED and nursing homes. Transfers of care often occur with incomplete information, which results in increased morbidity, recidivism, and cost. Transitions of elderly patients could be improved by standardizing hand-offs processes, improving discharge planning for elderly patients, developing metrics for transfers of care and geriatric care quality, and finding sustainable sources of research funding.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Medicine, Jesse Brown VA Hospital, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. Chad.Kessler@va.gov
authors.forename: Chad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kessler
authors.forename: Meredith C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: John N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Moustoukas
authors.forename: Cleo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pappas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003142:Communication; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005853:Geriatrics; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D009735:Nursing Homes; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000458:organization & administration*