Exploring ICOPE's Impact on Delaying Elderly Disability Management

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Health Informatics
• Public Health

Background:

• Hospitalized elderly patients often face complex health challenges, including functional decline and disability.
• Effective screening and management systems are crucial for improving outcomes in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the initial benefits of implementing the Integrated care for older people (ICOPE) information assessment system.
• To assess the system's effectiveness in managing hospitalized elderly patients in a Taiwanese teaching hospital.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of the ICOPE information assessment system for case screening and referral.
• Clinical ICOPE assessments followed by systematic follow-up and case management.
• Data collection on screening numbers, abnormal rates, referral, rescreening, and completion rates.

Main Results:

• Screened 3424 cases, averaging 311 ICOPE screenings monthly.
• Identified an average of 48 abnormal screenings per month (15% rate).
• Achieved a 79% referral rate, 91% rescreening rate, and 71% case management completion rate.

Conclusions:

• The ICOPE system facilitates rapid identification of potential disability in hospitalized elderly patients.
• Timely referral and case management through ICOPE can lead to appropriate interventions.
• Implementation of the ICOPE system shows potential for improving elderly patients' quality of life after returning home.