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Misplaced elderly patients in hospital: clarifying responsibilities
1Department of Health Care for the Elderly, Ladywell Hospital, Salford.
Health Trends
|December 10, 1991
Summary
A census identified that nearly half of elderly patients over 65 in general medical beds were geriatric. Screening for geriatric characteristics in general medical populations is useful for auditing geriatric services.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Elderly patients often occupy general medical beds.
- Assessing the effectiveness of geriatric departments is crucial for resource allocation and patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the service provided by a geriatric department.
- To quantify 'misplaced' geriatric patients in general medical beds.
Main Methods:
- A census of elderly patients in general medical beds was conducted.
- Patients were assessed using five specific criteria to identify 'geriatric' patients.
Main Results:
- 61% of patients in general medical beds were over 65 years old.
- Nearly 50% of these elderly patients met the 'geriatric' criteria.
Conclusions:
- Screening general medical patients for geriatric characteristics is a practical method for auditing geriatric services.
- Quantifying misplaced geriatric patients helps evaluate the performance and efficiency of geriatric departments.