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Ravn-Nielsen LV, Bjørk E, Nielsen M, Galsgaard S, Pottegård A, Lundby C. Challenges related to transitioning from hospital to temporary care at a skilled nursing facility: a descriptive study. Eur Geriatr Med 2024; 15:991-999. [PMID: 38878222 PMCID: PMC11377456 DOI: 10.1007/s41999-024-01003-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE With decreasing number of hospital beds, more citizens are discharged to temporary care at skilled nursing facilities, requiring increasingly complex care in a non-hospital setting. We mapped challenges related to the transition of citizens from hospital to temporary care at a skilled nursing facility in relation to medication management, responsibility of medical treatment, and communication. METHODS Descriptive study of citizens discharged from Odense University Hospital to temporary care from May 2022 to March 2023. RESULTS We included 209 citizens (53% women, median age 81 years). Most citizens (97%; n = 109/112) had their medication changed during hospital admission. Citizens used a median of eight medications, including risk medications (96%, n = 108). Medication-related challenges occurred for 37% (n = 77) of citizens and most often concerned missing alignment of medication records. Half of citizens (47%, n = 99) moved into temporary care with all medication needed for further dispensing. Nurses conducted in median three telephone calls (interquartile range [IQR 1-4]) and sent in median two correspondences (IQR 1-3) per citizen within the first 5 days. Nurses most often called the hospital physician (41% of telephone calls, n = 265/643) and sent correspondences to the general practitioner (55% of correspondences, n = 257/469). For 31% (n = 29/95) of citizens requiring action from nursing staff, this could have been avoided if the nurses had had access to the discharge letter. CONCLUSION We identified several challenges related to the transition of patients from hospital to temporary care, most often related to medication. A third of actions related to medication management were considered avoidable with improved practices around communication.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emma Bjørk
- Hospital Pharmacy Funen, Odense University Hospital, Solfaldsvej 38, 5000, Odense C, Denmark
- Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Marianne Nielsen
- Hospital Pharmacy Funen, Odense University Hospital, Solfaldsvej 38, 5000, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Stine Galsgaard
- Hospital Pharmacy Funen, Odense University Hospital, Solfaldsvej 38, 5000, Odense C, Denmark
| | - Anton Pottegård
- Hospital Pharmacy Funen, Odense University Hospital, Solfaldsvej 38, 5000, Odense C, Denmark
- Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Carina Lundby
- Hospital Pharmacy Funen, Odense University Hospital, Solfaldsvej 38, 5000, Odense C, Denmark
- Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Public Health, Research Unit of General Practice, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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Sánchez-Marcos C, Jacob J, Llorens P, López-Díez MP, Millán J, Martín-Sánchez FJ, Tost J, Aguirre A, Juan MÁ, Garrido JM, Rodríguez RC, Pérez-Llantada E, Díaz E, Sánchez-Nicolás JA, Mir M, Rodríguez-Adrada E, Herrero P, Gil V, Roset A, Peacock F, Miró Ò. Emergency department direct discharge compared to short-stay unit admission for selected patients with acute heart failure: analysis of short-term outcomes. Intern Emerg Med 2023; 18:1159-1168. [PMID: 36810965 PMCID: PMC10326134 DOI: 10.1007/s11739-023-03197-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Short stay unit (SSU) is an alternative to conventional hospitalization in patients with acute heart failure (AHF), but the prognosis is not known compared to direct discharge from the emergency department (ED). To determine whether direct discharge from the ED of patients diagnosed with AHF is associated with early adverse outcomes versus hospitalization in SSU. Endpoints, defined as 30-day all-cause mortality or post-discharge adverse events, were evaluated in patients diagnosed with AHF in 17 Spanish EDs with an SSU, and compared by ED discharge vs. SSU hospitalization. Endpoint risk was adjusted for baseline and AHF episode characteristics and in patients matched by propensity score (PS) for SSU hospitalization. Overall, 2358 patients were discharged home and 2003 were hospitalized in SSUs. Discharged patients were younger, more frequently men, with fewer comorbidities, had better baseline status, less infection, rapid atrial fibrillation and hypertensive emergency as the AHF trigger, and had a lower severity of AHF episode. While their 30-day mortality rate was lower than in patients hospitalized in SSU (4.4% vs. 8.1%, p < 0.001), 30-day post-discharge adverse events were similar (27.2% vs. 28.4%, p = 0.599). After adjustment, there were no differences in the 30-day risk of mortality of discharged patients (adjusted HR 0.846, 95% CI 0.637-1.107) or adverse events (1.035, 0.914-1.173). In 337 pairs of PS-matched patients, there were no differences in mortality or risk of adverse event between patients directly discharged or admitted to an SSU (0.753, 0.409-1.397; and 0.858, 0.645-1.142; respectively). Direct ED discharge of patients diagnosed with AHF provides similar outcomes compared to patients with similar characteristics and hospitalized in a SSU.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Javier Jacob
- Emergency Department, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Pere Llorens
- Emergency Department, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Y Biómedica de Alicante (ISABIAL), Short Stay Unit and Hospital at Home, Hospital General de Alicante, Miguel Hernández University, Alicante, Spain
| | | | - Javier Millán
- Emergency Department, Hospital Universitario La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Josep Tost
- Emergency Department, Consorci Hospitalari de Terrassa, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Alfons Aguirre
- Emergency Department, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | - Elena Díaz
- Emergency Department, Hospital Sant Joan, Alicante, Spain
| | | | - María Mir
- Emergency Department, Hospital Rey Juan Carlos, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Pablo Herrero
- Emergency Department, Hospital Central Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Víctor Gil
- Digital Cultures & Societies, University of Queensland, Mianjin/Brisbane, Spain
| | - Alex Roset
- Emergency Department, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Frank Peacock
- Emergency Department, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Òscar Miró
- Digital Cultures & Societies, University of Queensland, Mianjin/Brisbane, Spain.
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Heeren P, Hendrikx A, Ceyssens J, Devriendt E, Deschodt M, Desruelles D, Flamaing J, Sabbe M, Milisen K. Structure and processes of emergency observation units with a geriatric focus: a scoping review. BMC Geriatr 2021; 21:95. [PMID: 33526029 PMCID: PMC7852183 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-021-02029-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Combining observation principles and geriatric care concepts is considered a promising strategy for risk-stratification of older patients with emergency care needs. We aimed to map the structure and processes of emergency observation units (EOUs) with a geriatric focus and explore to what extent the comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) approach was implemented in EOUs. METHODS The revised scoping methodology framework of Arksey and O'Malley was applied. Manuscripts reporting on dedicated areas within hospitals for observation of older patients with emergency care needs were eligible for inclusion. Electronic database searches were performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL in combination with backward snowballing. Two researchers conducted data charting independently. Data-charting forms were developed and iteratively refined. Data inconsistencies were judged by a third researcher or discussed in the research team. Quality assessment was conducted with the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies. RESULTS Sixteen quantitative studies were included reporting on fifteen EOUs in seven countries across three continents. These units were located in the ED, immediately next to the ED or remote from the ED (i.e. hospital-based). All studies reported that staffing consisted of at least three healthcare professions. Observation duration varied between 4 and 72 h. Most studies focused on medical and functional assessment. Four studies reported to assess a patients' medical, functional, cognitive and social capabilities. If deemed necessary, post-discharge follow-up (e.g. community/primary care services and/or outpatient clinics) was provided in eleven studies. CONCLUSION This scoping review documented that the structure and processes of EOUs with a geriatric focus are very heterogeneous and rarely cover all elements of CGA. Further research is necessary to determine how complex care principles of 'observation medicine' and 'CGA' can ideally be merged and successfully implemented in clinical care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pieter Heeren
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Academic Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, KU Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 35/4, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Research Foundation Flanders, Egmontstraat 5, 1000, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Annabelle Hendrikx
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Academic Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, KU Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 35/4, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Janne Ceyssens
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Academic Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, KU Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 35/4, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Els Devriendt
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Academic Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, KU Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 35/4, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mieke Deschodt
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Gerontology and Geriatrics, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Public Health, Nursing Science, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 28, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Healthcare and Ethics, UHasselt, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Didier Desruelles
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Johan Flamaing
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Gerontology and Geriatrics, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marc Sabbe
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Emergency Medicine, KU Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 35/4, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Koen Milisen
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Academic Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, KU Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 35/4, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
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Khelil M, Zoghlami C, Horrigue I, Chebil D, Nouira S, Ben Lakhal A, Ben Abdelaziz A. Morbidity diagnosed in an internal medicine department of a secondary care center (Msaken, Sousse, Tunisia). LA TUNISIE MEDICALE 2021; 99:89-105. [PMID: 33899177 PMCID: PMC8636966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/29/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Internal Medicine is an essential component of the clinical platform of regional hospitals (relay between district hospitals and reference university hospitals). OBJECTIVE To describe the morbidity diagnosed at Medicine department of the regional hospital of Msaken (Sousse, Tunisia), taken as a tracer of intermediate hospitals. METHODS This descriptive study covered all of the patients hospitalized, during the year 2015, in the Internal Medicine department of the Msaken regional hospital. The data were disseminated through a "Minimum Clinical Summary". Morbidity was classified according to ICD-10. Hospital readmission was tested with reference to <28 days. RESULTS A total of 594 patients were hospitalized in Internal Medicine, with a sex ratio of 0.95 and a median age of 67 years [54-78]. "Diseases of the respiratory system" were the first category of diagnosed morbidity (58%), dominated by acute bronchitis, followed by "endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases" in women (including insulin-dependent diabetes) and category of infectious diseases in men (including erysipelas). The former patients of the service (49%) were twice as numerous among people ≥60 years old (57% vs 30% in those under 60 years). The readmission rate was 19% (29% for men versus 8% for women). The mean length of stay was 7 ± 5.7 days. The transfer rates and hospital mortality were 11.3% and 1.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION The morbidity diagnosed at the Internal Medicine department of the Msaken regional hospital was dominated by the triad: acute bronchitis, diabetes mellitus and erysipelas, particularly in the elderly. Hence the need to strengthen the training of future family doctors in pulmonology, diabetology and infectious diseases.
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[Abdominal Wall Surgery After SARS-CoV-2: Time to Reestablish Postponed Non-essential Procedures?]. Cir Esp 2020; 98:507-509. [PMID: 32354491 PMCID: PMC7166012 DOI: 10.1016/j.ciresp.2020.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
La pandemia por el COVID-19 nos ha encontrado desprotegidos ante la dificultad para dar una respuesta sanitaria adecuada y rápida. La red de hospitales del sistema sanitario público ha dispuesto la mayoría de los recursos para el tratamiento de los pacientes afectos por la infección. Las cirugías no esenciales (no prioritarias) han sido aplazadas. El reinicio óptimo y proporcionado de estas cirugías no prioritarias puede representar un problema. En el presente artículo se ofrece una perspectiva técnica y no técnica del reinicio de las cirugías no prioritarias desde la óptica de la cirugía de la pared abdominal.
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Strøm C, Stefansson JS, Fabritius ML, Rasmussen LS, Schmidt TA, Jakobsen JC. Hospitalisation in short-stay units for adults with internal medicine diseases and conditions. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2018; 8:CD012370. [PMID: 30102428 PMCID: PMC6513218 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd012370.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Short-stay units are hospital units that provide short-term care for selected patients. Studies have indicated that short-stay units might reduce admission rates, time of hospital stays, hospital readmissions and expenditure without compromising the quality of care. Short-stay units are often defined by a target patient category, a target function, and a target time frame. Hypothetically, short-stay units could be established as part of any department, but this review focuses on short-stay units that provide care for participants with internal medicine diseases and conditions. OBJECTIVES To assess beneficial and harmful effects of short-stay unit hospitalisation compared with usual care in people with internal medicine diseases and conditions. SEARCH METHODS We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, three other databases and two trials registers up to 13 December 2017 together with reference checking, citation searching and contact with study authors to identify additional studies. We also searched several grey literature sources and performed a forward citation search for included studies. SELECTION CRITERIA We included randomised trials and cluster-randomised trials, comparing hospitalisation in a short-stay unit with usual care (hospitalisation in a traditional hospital ward or other services). We defined a short-stay unit to be a hospital ward where the targeted length of stay in hospital for patients was five days or less. We included both multipurpose and specialised short-stay units. Participants were adults admitted to hospital with an internal medicine disease or condition. We excluded surgical, obstetric, psychiatric, gynaecological, and ambulatory participants. Trials were included irrespective of publication status, date, and language. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of each included trial. We measured intervention effect sizes by meta-analyses for two primary outcomes, mortality and serious adverse events, and one secondary outcome, hospital readmission. We narratively reported the following important outcomes: quality of life, activities of daily living, non-serious adverse events, and costs. We used risk ratio differences of 15% for mortality and of 20% for serious adverse events for minimal relevant clinical consideration. We rated the certainty of the evidence and the strength of recommendations of the outcomes using the GRADE approach. MAIN RESULTS We included 19 records reporting on 14 randomised trials with a total of 2872 participants. One trial was ongoing. Thirteen trials evaluated short-stay unit hospitalisation for six specific conditions (acute decompensated heart failure (one trial), asthma (one trial), atrial fibrillation (one trial), chest pain (seven trials), syncope (two trials), and transient ischaemic attack (one trial)) and one trial investigated participants presenting with miscellaneous internal medicine disease and conditions. The components of the intervention differed among the trials as dictated by the trial participants' condition. All included trials were at high risk of bias.The certainty of the evidence for all outcomes was very low. Consequently, it is uncertain whether hospitalisation in short-stay units compared with usual care reduces mortality (risk ratio (RR) 0.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.47 to 1.15) 5 trials (seven additional trials reporting on 1299 participants reported no deaths in either group)); serious adverse events (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.59 to 1.54; 7 trials (one additional trial with 108 participants reported no serious adverse events in either group)), and hospital readmission (RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.54 to 1.19, 8 trials (one additional trial with 424 participants did not report results for participants)). There was not enough information to confirm or refute that short-stay unit hospitalisation had relevant effects on quality of life, activities of daily living, non-serious adverse events, and costs. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Overall, the quantity and the certainty of the evidence was very low. Consequently, it is uncertain whether there are any beneficial or harmful effects of short-stay unit hospitalisation for adults with internal medicine diseases and conditions - more trials comparing the effects of short-stay units with usual care are needed. Such trials ought to be conducted with low risk of bias and low risks of random errors to improve the overall confidence in the evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Strøm
- Holbaek Hospital, University of CopenhagenDepartment of Emergency MedicineHolbaekDenmark4300
| | - Jakob S Stefansson
- Rigshospitalet, University of CopenhagenDepartment of Anaesthesia, Centre of Head and OrthopaedicsCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Maria Louise Fabritius
- Rigshospitalet, University of CopenhagenDepartment of Anaesthesia, Centre of Head and OrthopaedicsCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Lars S Rasmussen
- Rigshospitalet, University of CopenhagenDepartment of Anaesthesia, Centre of Head and OrthopaedicsCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Thomas A Schmidt
- Holbaek Hospital, University of CopenhagenDepartment of Emergency MedicineHolbaekDenmark4300
| | - Janus C Jakobsen
- Copenhagen Trial Unit, Centre for Clinical Intervention Research, Department 7812, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University HospitalCochrane Hepato‐Biliary GroupBlegdamsvej 9CopenhagenSjællandDenmarkDK‐2100
- Holbaek HospitalDepartment of CardiologyHolbaekDenmark4300
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