W Schippinger1, G Hartinger, A Hierzer, I Osprian, M Bohnstingl, E H Pilgram. 1. Abteilung für Innere Medizin/Akutgeriatrie und Remobilisation, Albert-Schweitzer-Klinik, Geriatrische Gesundheitszentren der Stadt Graz, Albert-Schweitzer-Gasse 36, 8020, Graz, Österreich. walter.schippinger@stadt.graz.at
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hospital admissions are frequent among long-term residents of nursing homes and can result in detrimental complications affecting the patients' somatic, psychological, and cognitive status. In this prospective controlled study, we investigated the effects of a mobile geriatric consultant service (GECO) offered by specialists in internal medicine on frequency of hospitalizations in nursing home residents. METHODS: During a 10-month observation period, residents in a control nursing home received medical attendance by general practitioners as is common in Austrian nursing homes. Residents in the intervention nursing home also received the medical service of GECO. RESULTS: Within the group of rest home residents receiving GECO support, a statistically significant lower frequency of acute transports to hospitals was observed in comparison to residents of the control nursing home (mean number of acute transports to hospitals/100 residents/month: 6.1 versus 11.7; p < 0.01). The number of planned non-acute hospital and specialist office presentations was also lower in the intervention nursing home (mean number of hospital and specialist office presentations/100 residents/month: 14.4 versus 18.0); however, this difference did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: This study shows that a mobile medical geriatric consultant service based on specialists in internal medicine can improve medical care in nursing homes resulting in a statistically significant reduction of acute transports to hospitals.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Hospital admissions are frequent among long-term residents of nursing homes and can result in detrimental complications affecting the patients' somatic, psychological, and cognitive status. In this prospective controlled study, we investigated the effects of a mobile geriatric consultant service (GECO) offered by specialists in internal medicine on frequency of hospitalizations in nursing home residents. METHODS: During a 10-month observation period, residents in a control nursing home received medical attendance by general practitioners as is common in Austrian nursing homes. Residents in the intervention nursing home also received the medical service of GECO. RESULTS: Within the group of rest home residents receiving GECO support, a statistically significant lower frequency of acute transports to hospitals was observed in comparison to residents of the control nursing home (mean number of acute transports to hospitals/100 residents/month: 6.1 versus 11.7; p < 0.01). The number of planned non-acute hospital and specialist office presentations was also lower in the intervention nursing home (mean number of hospital and specialist office presentations/100 residents/month: 14.4 versus 18.0); however, this difference did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: This study shows that a mobile medical geriatric consultant service based on specialists in internal medicine can improve medical care in nursing homes resulting in a statistically significant reduction of acute transports to hospitals.
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