[Early geriatric intervention. Consequences of reduced length of stay in a geriatric department]

The aim of the study was to evaluate if an experienced reduction in length of stay in a geriatric department had negative influence on rehabilitation in terms of more readmissions, nursing home replacements or deaths in the first six months after discharge from the geriatric department. In a retrospective study all inpatients discharged from geriatric department RL, Kommunehospitalet, in the first six months of 1990 and 1992 respectively were evaluated. The main contributor to reduction in hospital length of stay was found to be an earlier geriatric intervention combined with shorter waiting time for transfer to the geriatric department. In the study populations we found no significant difference in the number and time of readmissions, the number of nursing home replacements or deaths in the first six months after discharge. Short length of stay is not in itself an aim of a geriatric department. We conclude that geriatric assessment should take place as soon as possible after admission to hospital and acute/subacute admission to the geriatric department is to be intensified.