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Improved coordination of care for elderly patients
1Margaret R. Pardee Memorial Hospital, Hendersonville, N.C., USA.
Geriatric Nursing (New York, N.Y.)
|November 1, 1996
Summary
This study identified high-risk elderly patients in a rural hospital to improve care coordination. The developed database helps staff provide patient-centered care, reducing institutionalization and costly services.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric care
- Health services research
- Rural health
Background:
- Small rural hospitals face challenges in serving elderly populations.
- Identifying elderly patients at high risk for institutionalization or costly services is crucial for effective care coordination.
- Existing care delivery systems may be episode-centered rather than patient-centered.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the development and implementation of a care coordination program for the elderly in a rural hospital.
- To identify elderly patients at high risk of institutionalization or costly service utilization.
- To create a patient-centered information dissemination system for hospital staff.
Main Methods:
- Data collection over a 2-year period from multiple hospital entry points.
- Development of an emergency database for patient information.
- Focus on identifying high-risk elderly individuals.
Main Results:
- Successful identification of elderly patients at high risk.
- Establishment of a patient-centered information dissemination system.
- Improved hospital response to the needs of the elderly population.
Conclusions:
- Early identification of high-risk elderly patients is feasible and beneficial in rural hospital settings.
- A patient-centered database enhances care coordination and resource utilization.
- This approach can improve outcomes for elderly patients and hospital efficiency.