Exploring avoidable presentations from residential aged care facilities to the emergency department of a large regional Australian hospital.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed at determining the factors that contributed to older people presenting from residential aged care facilities (RACFs) to the emergency department (ED) of a regional Victorian hospital located in MM3 regional area. METHODS: Appropriateness of transfer was assessed based on predefined criteria, and associated costs for each presentation were calculated. DESIGN: The study carried out a retrospective review of records between July and December 2021. Data were extracted in a MS Excel spreadsheet and transferred to STATA 15.0 for analysis. SETTING: Large regional health service in Victoria. PARTICIPANTS: Residential aged care facilities residents presenting to the ED. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Was transfer appropriate or avoidable, costs associated with avoidable transfer, characteristics of the patient and circumstances relating to presentation to hospital. RESULTS: A total of 448 presentations were recorded, and 85% of residents were >75 years of age. More than 60% of presentations occurred during weekends or after hours, with the most common reason being falls (31.9%). Over half (55.6%) of all presentations were avoidable which incurred a cost of $777 200 in 6 months. In multiple logistic regression, higher ED presentations were observed in residents with no prior GP assessment (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.02-2.11). CONCLUSIONS: Necessary interventions such as preventing falls and increasing primary care access along with improving the quality of advance care directives (ACD) may reduce RACF transfers to the regional ED. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper of this kind that provides new data from an Australian rural and regional perspective and adds value to the growing body of knowledge in the intersection of aged care and acute emergency care.