title: Referrals to hospital emergency departments from residential aged care facilities: stuck in a time warp.
abstract: This research aimed to describe the number and type of residents admitted to emergency departments (EDs) over 2 years; and to explore nurses' perceptions of the reasons why residential aged care facility (RACF) residents are referred to EDs. The research objective was addressed in a retrospective exploratory study using data on admissions to EDs from RACFs (N = 3,094) at the participating organisation over a 2-year period, and interview data on seven RACF and four ED nurses' perceptions of the issues involved. Most residents presenting at EDs required urgent medical attention. Major themes identified by RACF and ED nurses included issues related to staff competency, availability of general practitioners, lack of equipment in RACFs, residents and family members requesting referrals, communication difficulties, and poor attitudes towards RACF staff. There is a need to use strategies to detect residents whose conditions are deteriorating and treat them promptly in RACFs.
authors.affiliation: Deakin University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 2. Faculty of Nursing, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
authors.forename: Beverly
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: O'Connell
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hawkins
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Considine
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Au
mesh_terms: D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012017:Referral and Consultation