title: Improving acute care for older people at scale - the Acute Frailty Network.
abstract: Older people form a growing proportion and volume of those accessing urgent care. Non-specific presentations, multiple comorbidities and functional decline make assessment and management of this cohort challenging. Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment offers an evidence based framework to assess and mange older people, especially those with frailty. In this article we describe the CGA approach, underpinned by specific examples illustrating some of the key competencies required, and describe the role of the Acute Frailty Network (AFN). The AFN is a national improvement collaborative designed to support hospitals in delivering evidence based care for older people with frailty and urgent care needs. We describe the principles underlying the approach of the AFN, derived from working with over 20 hospitals, and some of the early successes.
authors.affiliation: Geriatrician, University Hospitals of Leicester.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Conroy
authors.affiliation: Programme Director Urgent Care Delivery Networks, NHS Elect.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: Associate, NHS Elect.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.affiliation: Associate, NHS Elect.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tite
authors.affiliation: Associate, NHS Elect.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guest
authors.affiliation: Associate, NHS Elect.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rumley-Buss
authors.affiliation: Associate, NHS Elect.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Associate, NHS Elect.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Burge
authors.affiliation: Clinical Lead, NHS Elect.
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hawkins
authors.affiliation: Professor of Medicine for Older People, University of Nottingham.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gladman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019058:Community Networks / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D058996:Quality Improvement; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States