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[Changes in utilization of inpatient treatment after introduction of a gerontopsychiatric center]
J Valdes-Stauber1, K Nissle, M von Cranach
1Bezirkskrankenhaus Kaufbeuren.
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Kaufbeuren
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Psychiatry
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- The Kaufbeuren Psychogeriatric Center has undergone significant development over the past six years.
- Understanding the sociomedical impact of these changes is crucial for optimizing elderly care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the sociomedical effects of the Kaufbeuren Psychogeriatric Center's development.
- To analyze administrative and medical care variables over a six-year period.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of administrative and medical care data.
- Tracking changes in admission numbers, duration of stay, diagnoses, and patient living situations.
Main Results:
- Medium duration of stay decreased significantly (181 to 31 days), particularly for dementia patients.
- A notable increase in depressive disorder admissions (31% in 1998).
- Shift in admissions from general practitioners to psychogeriatric outpatients and increased self-referrals.
Conclusions:
- Community and visiting psychogeriatric care demonstrate efficiency for patients and economic benefits.
- The center's development has positively impacted patient care pathways and resource utilization.
Abstract:
We investigate the sociomedical effect of the development of Kaufbeuren's Psychogeriatric Center through the last six years by means of administrative and medical care variables. Whereas the number of admissions remained relatively stable, the medium duration of stay continuously decreased from 181 to 31 days--above all in favour of dementia--and the number of days hospital stay by 692%. The diagnosis with the greatest variation in number was the increase of depressive disorders to 31% of all admissions in 1998. Whereas the hospitalisation of patients initiated by general practitioners decreased by 12%, in the same period of time the number of admissions from our psychogeriatric outpatients' department increased by 16%. The number of admissions suggested by homes of the aged decreased, whereas the admission by patients' own initiative increased continuously. While the number of patients living in residential care decreased by 11%, the rate of patients living with their partners at home increased by 7%. These results point to the efficiency of community and visiting psychogeriatric care from both a patients' and an economically point of view.