[Six years of experiences from a department of geriatric psychiatry]

After a project period from 1994 to 1997, all hospital-based psychogeriatric services in the Norwegian county of Telemark have been located to one department in the central hospital. The department has three differentiated bed units and one out-patient unit. This article describes the psychogeriatric department before and after the project, and includes an evaluation of the quality of service. The changes following the reorganization have been evaluated with an internal analysis, questionnaires to primary health care personnel and an examination of medical and psychiatric records. In 1995 and 1997, questionnaires were sent to general practitioners and district nurses in Telemark County. An independent consultant examined 40 medical and psychiatric records in 1995 and 1997, evaluating them according to selected quality standards. The response rates among doctors were 59% in 1995 and 48% in 1997. The responses show that primary health care doctors and nurses make use of the department's services and that they are increasingly satisfied with the quality of these services. The examination of medical and psychiatric records shows insufficient documentation of psychiatric symptoms and activities of daily life in 1995, but significant improvements by 1997. There are drawbacks to the evaluation method employed. However, we find it warranted to conclude that the reorganization has been functional and that the quality of services has improved.