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'Assessment and care management'--a hospital perspective
1Department of Health Care for the Elderly, Ulster Hospital, Dundonald, Belfast.
The Ulster Medical Journal
|October 1, 1994
Summary
The introduction of assessment and care management led to longer hospital stays for patients in geriatric wards. This care management approach increased lengths of stay across various patient placements.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Healthcare Management
- Health Services Research
Background:
- The implementation of 'assessment and care management' aimed to streamline patient transitions from hospital to post-discharge care settings.
- Understanding the impact of new care management protocols on hospital resource utilization is crucial for healthcare planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of 'assessment and care management' on patient length of stay (LOS) in hospital settings.
- To compare LOS for patients managed under the new system versus those placed before its introduction.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study design was employed, analyzing patient data before and after April 1, 1993.
- Patient discharge destinations (nursing homes, residential homes, intensive domiciliary care) were analyzed in relation to LOS.
Main Results:
- Geriatric medical wards saw a 69% increase in LOS for assessed and care-managed patients.
- Self-funding patients experienced a 52% increase in LOS post-implementation.
- Patients on intensive domiciliary care showed a 66% longer hospital stay compared to those in private nursing homes.
Conclusions:
- Assessment and care management significantly increased hospital length of stay, particularly in geriatric settings.
- Discharge pathways and patient funding models influenced the observed changes in LOS.
- Further research is needed to optimize care management strategies for efficient resource allocation.