Emergency department utilisation among older people with acute and/or chronic conditions: A multi-centre retrospective study

Fry, M; Fitzpatrick, L; Considine, J; Shaban, RZ; Curtis, K

Emergency department utilisation among older people with acute and/or chronic conditions: A multi-centre retrospective study

Fry, M

Fitzpatrick, L Considine, J Shaban, RZ Curtis, K

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: International Emergency Nursing, 2018, 37 pp. 39 - 43
Issue Date:: 2018-03-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Fry, M https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1265-7096	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Fitzpatrick, L	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Considine, J	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Shaban, RZ	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Curtis, K	en_US
dc.date.available	2016-09-14	en_US
dc.date.issued	2018-03-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	International Emergency Nursing, 2018, 37 pp. 39 - 43	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1755-599X	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/115339
dc.description.abstract	© 2016 Introduction: Older persons aged over 65 years represent up to 41% of Australian Emergency Department (ED) presentations. Older persons present with acute and/or chronic conditions, have more Emergency Department visits, hospital admissions and readmissions than other age groups. However, little is known about the characteristics and trends of acute illness and chronic presentations and whether frailty changes these dimensions within this cohort. Methods: A 12-month retrospective medical record audit of persons over 65 years presenting to four EDs. Results: Data from 44,774 (26.6%) patients aged 65 years and over were analysed. Patients with acute conditions presented more frequently (n = 30,373; 67.8%), received more urgent triage categories (n = 13,471; 30.1%) and had higher admission rates (n = 18,332; 61%). Chronic conditions presented less frequently (n = 14,396; 32.1%) and had higher discharge rates (n = 9302; 65%). Patients over 80 years were allocated more urgent triage categories and commonly presented with falls (n = 3814; 8.5%). Patients between 65 and 79 years had a higher discharge rate (n = 10,397; 46.1%). Conclusion: Older persons with acute illnesses were more likely to be admitted than those with chronic conditions and who were more likely to be discharged home. There is scope for further investigation of new models of care to better manage older persons with chronic conditions and ED discharge practices.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	International Emergency Nursing	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.ienj.2016.09.004	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Nursing	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Acute Disease	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Chronic Disease	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Length of Stay	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Medical Records	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Retrospective Studies	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Cohort Studies	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Aged	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Aged, 80 and over	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Emergency Service, Hospital	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	New South Wales	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Male	en_US
dc.title	Emergency department utilisation among older people with acute and/or chronic conditions: A multi-centre retrospective study	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	37	en_US
utslib.for	1110 Nursing	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	37	en_US

Abstract:

© 2016 Introduction: Older persons aged over 65 years represent up to 41% of Australian Emergency Department (ED) presentations. Older persons present with acute and/or chronic conditions, have more Emergency Department visits, hospital admissions and readmissions than other age groups. However, little is known about the characteristics and trends of acute illness and chronic presentations and whether frailty changes these dimensions within this cohort. Methods: A 12-month retrospective medical record audit of persons over 65 years presenting to four EDs. Results: Data from 44,774 (26.6%) patients aged 65 years and over were analysed. Patients with acute conditions presented more frequently (n = 30,373; 67.8%), received more urgent triage categories (n = 13,471; 30.1%) and had higher admission rates (n = 18,332; 61%). Chronic conditions presented less frequently (n = 14,396; 32.1%) and had higher discharge rates (n = 9302; 65%). Patients over 80 years were allocated more urgent triage categories and commonly presented with falls (n = 3814; 8.5%). Patients between 65 and 79 years had a higher discharge rate (n = 10,397; 46.1%). Conclusion: Older persons with acute illnesses were more likely to be admitted than those with chronic conditions and who were more likely to be discharged home. There is scope for further investigation of new models of care to better manage older persons with chronic conditions and ED discharge practices.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/115339