Mortality among referrals to a community-based intermediate care team

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Palliative Care
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Intermediate care services (ICT) aim to reduce hospital admissions and long-term care placements.
• Elderly patients with complex comorbidities are frequently referred to ICT.
• Palliative care needs of ICT patients are often overlooked.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the mortality rate of patients referred to community-based intermediate care.
• To assess deaths during intermediate care and up to 24 months post-discharge.
• To inform the development of supportive and palliative care within intermediate care settings.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study.
• Analysis of 4770 adult patients referred to Northamptonshire Intermediate Care Team (ICT) from April 2010 to April 2011.

Main Results:

• 60% of patients were 75+, with 32% being 85+.
• 4% died during ICT stay; 11% died within 30 days of discharge.
• 25% died by 12 months, rising to 32% by 24 months; male gender and higher age correlated with mortality.

Conclusions:

• Intermediate care clinicians must address immediate and long-term palliative care needs.
• Collaborative models between ICT and palliative care teams can support home deaths for non-cancer patients.
• Integrating palliative care into intermediate care is crucial for patient well-being.