Jörg Martin Rohde1, Asha Kunnel2, Ingrid Becker3, Heinz L Unger4, Jana Hummel5, Gabriele Röhrig-Herzog6. 1. MVZ Medicum Köln-Ost, Zentrum für spezialisierte geriatrische Diagnostik, Johann Classen Strasse 68, 51103, Köln, Deutschland. 2. Klinik für neurologische und fachübergreifende Frührehabilitation, St Marien Hospital, Köln, Deutschland. 3. Institut für Medizinische Statistik und Bioinformatik, Uniklinik Köln, Robert Koch Str. 10, 50931, Köln, Deutschland. 4. Klinik für Akutgeriatrie und Frührehabilitation, Evangelisches Krankenhaus Kalk, Köln, Deutschland. 5. Geriatrische und Gerontopsychotherapeutische Schwerpunktpraxis, Mannheim, Deutschland. 6. Campus Köln, FB Interdisziplinäre Schmerztherapie - Schwerpunkt Geriatrie, EUFH Hochschule für Gesundheit, Pädagogik und Soziales, Neusser Str. 99, 50678, Köln, Deutschland. g.roehrig-herzog@eufh-medica.de.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In Germany geriatric outpatient care is predominantly done by family doctors and general practitioners (GP). There are regionally different concepts for additional specialized geriatric outpatient care but they have not yet been validated and established. Still, it remains unclear whether a geriatric patient has to be diagnosed rather in a specialized outpatient or inpatient setting. The aim of the present study is the profiling of geriatric outpatients to find key distinctions from geriatric patients that have to be admitted to hospital. METHODS: Retrospective data analysis of patients sent to a specialized geriatric outpatient clinic by their GP, compared with data of geriatric inpatients sent to hospital by their GP during the same time period. Study parameters comprised elements of the comprehensive geriatric assessment as well as results of routinely applied laboratory tests. RESULTS: Patients sent to the specialized geriatric outpatient clinic showed better results of functional assessments. Regression analysis: improvement of Barthel Index, GFR and total protein increased the chance of outpatient treatment. CONCLUSION: Early identification of geriatric patients who can be treated in a specialized outpatient setting would ease the burden for GPs by interdisciplinary cooperation and prevent cost-intensive readmissions to hospital.
BACKGROUND: In Germany geriatric outpatient care is predominantly done by family doctors and general practitioners (GP). There are regionally different concepts for additional specialized geriatric outpatient care but they have not yet been validated and established. Still, it remains unclear whether a geriatric patient has to be diagnosed rather in a specialized outpatient or inpatient setting. The aim of the present study is the profiling of geriatric outpatients to find key distinctions from geriatric patients that have to be admitted to hospital. METHODS: Retrospective data analysis of patients sent to a specialized geriatric outpatient clinic by their GP, compared with data of geriatric inpatients sent to hospital by their GP during the same time period. Study parameters comprised elements of the comprehensive geriatric assessment as well as results of routinely applied laboratory tests. RESULTS: Patients sent to the specialized geriatric outpatient clinic showed better results of functional assessments. Regression analysis: improvement of Barthel Index, GFR and total protein increased the chance of outpatient treatment. CONCLUSION: Early identification of geriatric patients who can be treated in a specialized outpatient setting would ease the burden for GPs by interdisciplinary cooperation and prevent cost-intensive readmissions to hospital.
Authors: Gulistan Bahat; Asli Tufan; Fatih Tufan; Cihan Kilic; Timur Selçuk Akpinar; Murat Kose; Nilgun Erten; Mehmet Akif Karan; Alfonso J Cruz-Jentoft Journal: Clin Nutr Date: 2016-02-11 Impact factor: 7.324
Authors: Yvonne M Drewes; Jacobijn Gussekloo; Victor van der Meer; Henk Rigter; Janny H Dekker; Marleen J B M Goumans; Job F M Metsemakers; Riki van Overbeek; Sophia E de Rooij; Henk J Schers; Marieke J Schuurmans; Ferd Sturmans; Kerst de Vries; Rudi G J Westendorp; Annet W Wind; Willem J J Assendelft Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2011-12-16 Impact factor: 5.562