An evaluation of geriatric service in a public hospital

A retrospective survey of the one and half years between 1975-77 was conducted to evaluate the medical problems of the elderly in a community served by a large urban public hospital. Medical records of 238 patients were scrutinised to assess the incidence of most common diseases, their outcome and the success of rehabilitation programme. There were more females (58.4%) than males (41.6%) and the mean age of patients was 78 years. The cerebrovascular problems were the commonest followed by cardiovascular and musculoskeletal disorders. Majority of the patients, however, had multiple problems. Twenty-eight percent of the patients died in the hospital and of the remaining, 83% were successfully rehabilitated. A large number of the patients discharged home needed provision of domiciliary services in the early stages and the readmission rate was 3%.