Reducing hospital admissions from care homes

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Healthcare Management
• Community Health Services

Background:

• Hospital admission for care home residents is often distressing and can be avoided.
• Inappropriate transfers of care home residents to acute hospitals were identified in East Surrey.

Purpose of the Study:

• To decrease avoidable hospital attendance and admissions for care home residents.
• To evaluate the impact of a dedicated community matron role in care homes.

Main Methods:

• A community matron for care homes role was established.
• Matrons provided advisory, supportive, and facilitative assistance to care home staff.
• Focus on enhancing staff competence and confidence in resident care management.

Main Results:

• Significant reduction in avoidable hospital attendances and admissions.
• Demonstrable improvement in the quality of care provided to residents.
• Enhanced capacity of care home staff to manage resident health needs.

Conclusions:

• The community matron role is effective in reducing unnecessary hospitalizations for care home residents.
• This model of care improves overall resident well-being and optimizes healthcare resource utilization.
• Supporting care home staff is crucial for preventing avoidable acute care episodes.