Getting together: administrative and clinical teamwork creates a geriatric care program for the hospital

Sunnybrook Medical Centre, Toronto, has designed a written, multidisciplinary program of care for elderly patients in acute care. The program includes specific community outreach activities that support the in-hospital program and addresses the challenges presented by an increasingly aged population. Some of its objectives are to develop a measurement for length of stay patterns, a reduction in the number of patients waiting for relocation to a long-term care institution (commonly and derogatorily referred to as "placement problems") and an increase in patient, family and staff satisfaction. A method for program evaluation is being designed. The program takes a three-level approach to care: (1) the non-problematic elderly patient, (2) the more complex elderly patient and (3) the care of patients who have finished treatment for their acute illness but who require long-term care institutionalization.