[Risk stratification at the emergency ward is a must]

In light of the growing number of elderly patients visiting emergency rooms, a different approach is needed than that used toward the younger patient. Healthcare should be tailored to this specific elderly target group. Study results have recently been published on an instrument used to stratify risks in older patients who are acutely admitted to the hospital; this instrument is called 'Identification of Seniors at Risk-Hospitalized Patients' (ISAR-HP). The ISAR-HP score, however, is not predictive on an individual level. Disease-related risk scores are better for deriving prognoses for individual patients. The ISAR-HP may be considered as a first step in streamlining elderly care; however, better and validated measurement tools are needed.