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[Geriatric outpatient healthcare: hierarchical demand structuring]
Roberto Alves Lourenço1, Cláudia de Souza Ferreira Martins, Maria Angélica S Sanchez
1Departamento de Epidemiologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. lourenco@uerj.br
Revista De Saude Publica
|May 17, 2005
Summary
A new outpatient model identifies at-risk elderly individuals in Brazil. This approach aims to improve geriatric healthcare by stratifying patients for tailored interventions, addressing the challenges of a growing elderly population.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Public Health
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Brazil faces increasing healthcare demands due to a rapidly aging population.
- Traditional geriatric care models are inefficient, necessitating innovative approaches.
- There is a need for adaptable healthcare models to manage diverse elderly health conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel two-stage outpatient model for geriatric healthcare in Brazil.
- To detail the first stage focused on risk identification in large elderly populations.
- To establish a hierarchical system for stratifying elderly individuals based on health risks.
Main Methods:
- Development of a hierarchical flow of actions for risk assessment.
- Utilization of sensitive and specific assessment tools for screening.
- Implementation of an eight-item rapid screening instrument for individuals aged 65+.
Main Results:
- Elderly individuals are identified via outpatient, home, or telephone consultations.
- A risk stratification system categorizes individuals into low, medium, high, and medium-high risk levels.
- Referral pathways are established based on identified risk levels for further evaluation or standard care.
Conclusions:
- The proposed model effectively identifies and stratifies at-risk elderly individuals.
- This initial stage provides a foundation for differentiated geriatric care pathways.
- The model offers a scalable solution to manage the growing burden of elderly healthcare needs.