Related Experiment Videos
Geriatric assessment teams in nursing homes: do they work?
T A Cavalieri1, A Chopra, D Gray-Miceli
1Center for Aging, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford 08084.
The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association
|December 1, 1993
Summary
Geriatric assessment teams enhance nursing home patient care by increasing diagnoses and services. This approach shows a trend toward reduced mortality and fewer emergency visits, improving overall quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Healthcare Quality Improvement
- Nursing Home Care
Background:
- Geriatric assessment teams have demonstrated effectiveness in outpatient and acute care.
- The impact of these teams in long-term nursing home settings requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the quality of care and healthcare service utilization for nursing home patients managed by a geriatric assessment team versus standard care.
- To evaluate the 12-month outcomes following admission.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 69 consecutive nursing home admissions.
- Patients were assigned to either a geriatric assessment team or standard care (nonteam) group.
- Quality-of-care indices and healthcare service utilization were compared retrospectively via medical record review.
Main Results:
- Patients receiving team-based care had a significantly higher number of documented diagnoses.
- The team group utilized more ancillary services compared to the standard care group.
- Trends suggested decreased mortality, fewer emergency department visits, and reduced medication prescriptions in the team group, though not statistically significant.
Conclusions:
- The geriatric assessment team approach appears to improve the quality of care in nursing home settings.
- Further clinical studies are recommended to validate these findings in diverse nursing home populations.