Relationship of long-term and acute-care facilities. The problem of patient transfer and continuity of care.
J Am Geriatr Soc
; 33(12): 819-26, 1985 Dec.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-4067162
ABSTRACT
Approximately 17% of patients residing in an extended-care facility--which provides close physician-patient contact and strong affiliation with an acute-care hospital, although does not have the capacity for intravenous therapy--required admission to an acute-care hospital during a one-year period. The most common medical problem necessitating transfer to the acute-care hospital was an infectious process. Most infections were correctly diagnosed in the extended-care facility, but due to the inability to administer intravenous therapy, transfer was thought mandatory. The acute-care hospital stay was short, which is thought to reflect partially the close affiliation between the extended-care facility and acute-care hospital. Complications occurred while patients were in the acute-care hospital with 30% demonstrating new pressure sores upon their return to the extended-care facility. Repeated acute-care hospital admissions were not uncommon, usually occurring within a short period after the patient's return to the extended-care facility, and commonly related to the same medical disorder that caused the initial admission. Prognosis was poor in patients who required admission to the acute-care hospital and mortality rate increased to approximately 50% in patients requiring multiple admissions. It is concluded that an extended-care facility that provides a high level of physician-patient contact and a close affiliation with an acute-care hospital is advantageous in providing efficient and continual care for the elderly. Provisions for the administration of intravenous therapy might even increase the efficiency of such a facility.
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Atenção Primária à Saúde
/
Encaminhamento e Consulta
/
Instituições de Cuidados Especializados de Enfermagem
/
Continuidade da Assistência ao Paciente
/
Cuidados Críticos
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Etiology_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
1985
Tipo de documento:
Article