Geriatric Consultation Research Articles

187 The Impact of Geriatric Consultation on Admission Rates of Older ACO Patients From the Emergency Department: Implications for ACO Cost Savings

187 The Impact of Geriatric Consultation on Admission Rates of Older ACO Patients From the Emergency Department: Implications for ACO Cost Savings

Improving Recruitment Of Older Patients For Patient And Public Involvement And Engagement Work (PPIE): Ensuring A Representative Voice

Abstract Background Older people are under-represented in research, despite this demographic being the biggest users of healthcare resources. Service design needs to be patient-centred and therefore engaging this underserved group is crucial, albeit challenging. We describe a quality improvement project aimed at improving recruitment of patients into a local PPIE group in a perioperative geriatric service. Methods Clinicians opportunistically consent patients for the PPIE group during their perioperative geriatric clinic consultations. A baseline level of recruitment was established before implementing a series of PDSA cycles. The interventions were firstly, to adapt the paper clinic proforma making the consent section clearer, secondly to give weekly reminders to clinicians, and finally discussing PPIE with patients while they wait for their appointment. A focus group with clinicians was run using nominal group technique to explore barriers and potential solutions to recruitment. Results An average of three patients were being recruited per month from April 2022 to September 2023. Two weeks following the first intervention, no new patients were consented. Two weeks following the second intervention, this improved to two new patients. Following the third intervention, five new patients were recruited after two clinic sessions. From the focus group, the top three barriers to recruitment were forgetting, clinical responsibilities taking priority, and lack of awareness by new staff. The highest rated solution was utilising non-clinical staff to recruit patients in the waiting room. Conclusion During busy clinics, it is easy for clinicians to forget about issues not directly related to the patient in front of them. However, PPIE is vital in co-designing healthcare. There are both staff and patient-related barriers in recruiting and maintaining a PPIE group in older patients. From our project, we found a combination of passive (e.g. a tickbox proforma) and active recruitment by dedicated staff the best way to improve PPIE.

Reduction of Rehospitalization with Addition of Geriatrics/Transitions of Care Consult Service

Older adults are at high risk of rehospitalization after an acute event and at even higher risk of permanently losing an activity of daily living with each hospitalization. This is especially true in those with encephalopathy, delirium, dementia, falls, and failure to thrive. Although it is widely known that rehospitalization rates are higher in patients who discharge to skilled nursing and long-term care facilities, geriatrics consultations have not been shown to consistently decrease this risk. In this study, we added a novel component specific to transitions of care alongside a traditional geriatrics consultation for patients discharging to a skilled nursing or long-term care facility. Results show evidence of significant rehospitalization reduction for patients with markers of cognitive impairment and frailty.

Abstract C071: Comprehensive genomics-informed prospective older adult (OA) cancer registry: Initial findings from gastrointestinal (GI) malignancy

Abstract The REACH study (Resilience and Equity in Aging, Cancer, and Health) assesses the impact of geriatric consultation on reducing emergency department and/or unplanned hospitalization visits (EDH) for OA age 70+ diagnosed with GI cancer. We sought to develop an OA GI cancer registry (REACH Registry) within the REACH intervention integrating 1) disease and treatment factors from the PRISSMM cancer taxonomy model with 2) patient reported outcomes and 3) geriatric assessment (GA) measures predictive of function, toxicity, and survival. We reviewed GA measures using the modified Rockwood frailty scale, PROMIS-10 global mental and physical scores, Karnofsky performance status, health-related social needs, and disease/treatment factors using PRISSMM cancer taxonomy for OA consented to REACH in the GI Cancer Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) from January 2022–April 2024. OA were eligible if age 70+ at initial DFCI consult visit and diagnosed with any GI cancer. The GA stratifies OA by frailty level on a 0-1 scale: Fit/Robust (score range 0–0.19), Pre-Frail (0.2–0.34), and Frail (0.35–1.0). PRISSMM is a cancer data modeling system developed for the American Association for Cancer Research Project Genomics Evidence Neoplasia Information Exchange (GENIE) Biopharma Collaborative; it includes pathology, radiology/imaging, symptoms, and molecular markers curated by trained research staff from unstructured EHR data. From Jan. 2022–Apr. 2024, 50 OA consented to REACH registry (94 eligible). Of those, 44% (n=22) have PRISSMM data available for analysis. Most OA reported white race (90%, n=45) and female gender (52%, n=26). Pancreatic cancer was the most common diagnosis (n=21), followed by colon (9), biliary (5), and esophageal (4). Most OA completed GA (90%, n=45) with 51% screened Fit/Robust (n=23), 47% Pre-Frail (n=21), and 2% Frail (n=1). Type 2 diabetes mellitus was the most commonly reported comorbid condition (26%, n=13), followed by chronic kidney disease (n=6) and congestive heart failure (n=3). Of the 22 OA with available PRISSMM data, 59% (n=13) were diagnosed with stage IV disease and 100% received cancer-directed therapy; 72% (n=16) received standard care, 27% clinical trial (n=6). Most OA consented for tumor somatic genomic testing (77%, n=17). At the time of data curation 24 months from assessment, 20 patients had died, 30 were alive. Evaluation of the REACH intervention geriatric consultation on EDH outcome is forthcoming. REACH registry is the first GI cancer database inclusive of geriatric specific measures alongside curated disease, treatment and genomic data. We observed a higher rate of genomic testing and treatment initiation than reported in the literature. We anticipate that by September 2024, a larger cohort of REACH Registry participants will have completed PRISSMM data available for analysis. Future study will compare EDH for REACH vs. non-REACH OA as well as treatment patterns of this OA cohort evaluated at a large comprehensive cancer center and associated community sites. Citation Format: Tammy T. Hshieh, Rachel L. Weitzner, Siri Rosenberg, Leila Rostamnjad, Lauren K. Brais, Nora Horick, Tamryn Gray, Jiping Wang, Jeffrey Meyerhardt, Nadine J. McCleary. Comprehensive genomics-informed prospective older adult (OA) cancer registry: Initial findings from gastrointestinal (GI) malignancy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr C071.

Availability of physicians with geriatric qualifications to implement the requirements for the care of geriatric patients with proximal femoral fractures

Since 2024, according to the guidelines on the treatment of proximal femoral fractures of the German Joint Federal Committee (QSFFx-RL), the geriatric qualification of physicians is the new quality standard for the daily guarantee of geriatric competence in the care of fractures near the hip joint in hospitals. The article examines whether there are enough physicians qualified in geriatrics available to implement this quality standard in practice. The data were based on physician statistics, quality assurance procedures and hospital billing records. The available geriatric competence was determined on the basis of physicians with the required geriatric qualifications and potential orthogeriatric cooperation partners, hospital locations with guideline cases using the main diagnoses and procedures. The total increase in the number of physicians qualified in geriatrics for 2023 can be estimated at around 4800 (of whom 2700 are active in inpatient and 1700 in outpatient fields). In 2022 there were 1005 hospital locations with > 20guideline cases, 55% of which also offered geriatric services. A total of 908 geriatric locations (hospital/rehabilitation) and 1476 contract doctors were identified as potential cooperation partners. Only 4.6% of hospital locations with > 20guideline cases did not have apotential geriatric location within adistance radius of ≤ 20 km. The number of physicians qualified in geriatrics and potential geriatric cooperation partners, the long transition period, already established local geriatric care services and the possibility of using telemedicine support the feasibility of implementing the new quality standard; however, the planned exclusion of geriatric consultations on request starting in 2027 will require even more physicians qualified in geriatrics.

The impact of an integrative healthcare system on longevity in a nonagenarian population in Northern Mexico: an observational study

BackgroundDespite the growth in the older population, there is a noticeable research gap regarding integrative health systems for older people and their impact on longevity in nonagenarians. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of an integrative health system consisting of medical services, recreational facilities, and housing on longevity in a population of nonagenarians in Northern Mexico.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional, retrospective, descriptive-analytical study in which we measured and analyzed medical history such as number of hospitalizations, visits to geriatric consultation, hypertension, history of chronic pain, polypharmacy, dementia, rheumatic disease, diabetes mellitus, insomnia, depression, ischemic cardiomyopathy, among others. We also measured social engagement and number of caregivers. A logistic regression was performed to evaluate the predictors of mortality in this population.ResultsWe included one hundred and ninety-five nonagenarians with a mean (SD) age of 94 (4.2) years and of which 112 (55.7%) were female. The findings from logistic regression analysis indicated that a higher frequency of hospitalizations was associated with an elevated mortality risk (OR = 1.272, p = 0.049). Conversely, increased visits to geriatric consultation services as primary care were linked to a reduced mortality risk (OR = 0.953, p = 0.002). Additionally, social engagement displayed a protective effect (OR = 0.336, p = 0.05).ConclusionsThis study highlighted the role of systemic health approaches in extending life through insights into nonagenarian patients’ involvement in primary care, as measured by consultation frequency, and participation in social activities, mitigating mortality risks. Meanwhile, it emphasized the potential consequences of higher hospitalization rates on increased mortality risk.

Adult Children as Companions in Geriatric Consultations: An Interpersonal Perspective from China

ABSTRACT Despite the prevalence of accompanied medical visits all over the world, most literature on triadic medical communication shares an Anglo-American background; little is known about non-dyadic medical interactions in Asian societies such as China. This article explores triadic interactions in Chinese geriatric outpatient consultations, focusing on the interpersonal dynamics between doctors, older patients, and the adult children who accompany them throughout the consultation. From an interpersonal pragmatic approach, we conduct a conversation analysis of the transcription of 36 audio-recorded encounters. Our findings demonstrate three patterns of companions’ communicative actions during geriatric visits: enhancing rapport, mitigating face threats, and adding tension. These patterns reveal the multi-faceted nature of adult children’s participation in geriatric care, highlighting their capacity to simultaneously facilitate a positive interpersonal atmosphere and pose challenges to their older parents’ face. Delving into the nuanced mechanisms through which these patterns of engagement are triggered, warranted, and negotiated by all participants in the local contingencies, we further illuminate the institutional and cultural context that informs companions’ intervention. Our analysis demonstrates that the influence of Chinese familial values and institutional constraints in Chinese tertiary hospitals, including restricted time and limited privacy within the clinic room, have shaped the interpersonal dynamic in triadic geriatric care. Our research calls for the development of nuanced and targeted interventions and training for healthcare professionals and companions of older patients alike.

Building Geriatric Trauma Programs in Resource-Constrained Environments: Trauma Quality Improvement Program Guideline Implementation at Two Safety Net Hospitals in Southern California.

Background: To improve care of geriatric trauma patients, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) updated guidelines in 2021. Amid geriatrician shortages in Southern California, 2 Los Angeles County safety net hospitals were tasked with creating a strategy to meet geriatric trauma guidelines despite constrained resources. Methods: All trauma patients ≥ 60years admitted to a safety net hospital in Southern California were enrolled without exclusions (August 2022-April 2023). Primary outcome was frailty screening with documentation to identify older trauma patients at a high risk for adverse outcomes. Results: Needs assessment discovered no standardized process to identify high-risk geriatric patients, no geriatric care guidelines, and no inpatient geriatric consultation service. An action plan composed of a resident-led frailty screen resulted in identification of high-risk patients. Overall, 217 patients met criteria. Ninety-six patients (44%) successfully underwent frailty screening. Frailty screening compliance increased over the study, beginning at 37% capture in the first month and increasing to 81% in the final study month. After achieving nearly uniform frailty screening, a form was developed for the EMR for ease of documentation, data capture/tracking, and compliance monitoring. Discussion: In this study, creativity, collaboration, and resourcefulness allowed TQIP guideline implementation at 2 county hospitals. A systematic process is now in place to identify and triage high-risk geriatric trauma patients based on frailty screen to receive inpatient medicine consultation for medical comorbidity optimization. Continued interdisciplinary and interfacility collaboration will be crucial for continued delivery of the optimal care to older injured patients.

Impact of inpatient geriatrics consultation on hospital outcomes in older adults with trauma.

Older adults presenting with trauma have worse outcomes than younger adults. Starting in 2016, we provided geriatrics consultation (GC) to older adults admitted to the trauma service. We aimed to analyze the impact of GC on patient outcomes. We performed a retrospective pre-post study and year-matched cohort study. We identified patients from the trauma registry at our level 1 trauma center. In the pre-post study, we compared patients who received GC (2016-2022) with controls (2011-2015). In the cohort study (2016-2022), we compared patients who received GC with controls. We matched for age, race, sex, and injury severity score (ISS) in both studies, as well as admission year in the cohort study. Outcome variables included mortality (in-hospital, 30-day, 90-day), length of stay (LOS), discharge disposition, and hospital readmission rates (30-day, 90-day). We analyzed 1968 patients in the pre-post study and 2544 patients in the cohort study. Patients were similar in age, race, and sex. GC patients had a slightly higher ISS score and a higher rate of ICU stay. Delirium occurrence was lower among GC patients. GC patients had lower in-hospital mortality compared to controls (pre-post OR 0.27, p < 0.001; cohort OR 0.31, p < 0.001) and increased LOS (6 days vs 4 days, p < 0.001; both studies). GC patients in the cohort study also had lower 30- and 90-day mortality (OR 0.52 and 0.65, p < 0.01) and were less likely to return home (OR 0.81, p < 0.01); similar trends, though not statistically significant, were noted in the pre-post study. Lower readmission rates (statistically non-significant) were noted in the GC group across both studies. GC in older adults with trauma has proven benefit with reduced mortality and a trend toward lower readmission rates but was associated with increased LOS and higher rates of discharge to skilled facility.

Optimizing older patient care in emergency departments: a comprehensive survey of current practices and challenges in Northern Italy.

The progressive aging of the population and the increasing complexity of health issues contribute to a growing number of older individuals seeking emergency care. This study aims to assess the state of the art of care provided to older people in the Emergency Departments of Lombardy, the most populous region in Italy, counting over 2million people aged 65 years and older. An online cross-sectional survey was developed and disseminated among emergency medicine physicians and physicians affiliated to the Lombardy section of the Italian Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology (SIGG), during June and July 2023. The questionnaire covered hospital profiles, geriatric consultation practices, risk assessment tools, discharge processes and perspectives on geriatric emergency care. In this mixed method research, 219 structured interviews were collected. The majority of physicians were employed in hospitals, with 54.7% being geriatricians. Critical gaps in older patient's care were identified, including the absence of dedicated care pathways, insufficient awareness of screening tools, and a need for enhanced professional training. Tailored protocols and geriatric educational programs are crucial for improving the quality of emergency care provided to older individuals. These measures might also help relieve the burden on the Emergency Departments, thereby potentially enhancing overall efficiency and ensuring better outcomes.

Methods of correction of chronic heart failure in patients of older age groups against the background of depressive disorders

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a common disease in patients of older age groups. Often these patients experience depressive disorders that affect the course of chronic diseases and their standard of living. Purpose. To study methods for increasing the effectiveness of treatment of CHF against the background of depressive disorders in patients of older age groups. Material and methods. The study involved 100 patients aged 60–87 years with functional class II–III CHF and mild to moderate depressive disorders. Patients were divided into groups depending on the therapy received: 1st (n=25) – standard therapy for CHF; 2nd (n=25) – standard therapy for CHF + antidepressant; 3rd (n=25) – standard therapy for CHF + phototherapy; 4th (n=25) – standard therapy for CHF + placebo. The effectiveness of CHF therapy was assessed after 3 and 6 weeks during clinical examination using a 6-minute walk test, ECG, echocardiography, and a clinical condition rating scale. To diagnose depressive disorders, the Geriatric Depression Scale, HADS, Beck scale, and consultations with a psychotherapist were used. Results. After 6 weeks of therapy, patients of all groups noted a decrease in shortness of breath and chest pain, and an increase in tolerance to physical activity. At the same time, the decrease in the level of anxiety and depression was most pronounced in groups 2 and 3 – in 84 and 100% of cases, respectively.

Impact of Geriatric Consult Evaluations on Hospital Admission Rates for Older Adults.

We examined the impact of a geriatric consult program in the emergency department (ED) and an ED observation geriatric care unit (GCU) setting on hospital admission rates for older ED patients. We performed a retrospective case control study from June 1-August 31, 2019 (pre-program) to September 24, 2019-January 31, 2020 (post-program). Post-program geriatric consults were readily available in the ED and required in the GCU setting. Hospital admission rates (outcome) are reported for patients who received a geriatric consult evaluation (intervention). We analyzed probability of admission using a mixed-effects logistic regression model that included age, gender, recent ED visit, Charlson Comorbidity Index, referral to ED observation, and geriatric consult evaluation as predictor variables. A total of 9,663 geriatric ED encounters occurred, 4,042 pre-program and 5,621 post-program. Overall, ED admission rates for geriatric patients were similar pre- and post-program (44.8% vs 43.9%, P = 0.39). Of 243 geriatric consults, 149 (61.3%) occurred in the GCU. Overall admission rates post-program for patients receiving geriatric intervention were significantly lower compared to pre-program (23.4% vs 44.9%, P < 0.001). Post-program GCU hospital admission rates were significantly lower than pre-program ED observation unit admission rates (14/149, 9.4%, vs 111/477, 23.3%, P < 0.001). In the logistic regression model, admissions post-program were lower when a geriatric consult evaluation occurred (odds ratio [OR] 0.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.41-0.83). Hospital admissions for older ED observation patients were also significantly decreased when a geriatric consult was obtained (GCU vs pre-program ED observation unit; OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.14-0.50). Geriatric consult evaluations were associated with significantly lower rates of hospital admission and persisted when controlled for age, gender, comorbidities, and ED observation unit placement. This model may allow healthcare systems to decrease potentially avoidable hospital admission rates in older ED patients.

Delirium diagnostic 2012 to 2021, contribution of CAM and clinical nurses of the geriatric consultation team in CIUSSS de l’Estrie‐CHUS

AbstractBackgroundTo evaluate the evolution of diagnostic of delirium following the introduction of CAM as a geriatric vital sign as part of The Specialized Approach to Senior Care (l’approche adaptée à la personne âgée, AAPA) in University Hospital CIUSSS de l’Estrie‐CHUS in 2014.MethodTraining on CAM and delirium was given in 2014. The nurses of the geriatric consultation team make recommendations/coaching to the treating teams during geriatric consultations. We analyze ICD‐10 data from &gt; 65‐year‐olds hospitalized at the CHUS before (2012) and after (2016). A criteria base analysis of the files with diagnosis of delirium on the discharge letter or a geriatric consultation of November 2016 describes the considerations related to delirium.ResultOf the 32,000 hospitalizations at CHUS in 2016, 13,000 are over 65 years old and 1296 have a geriatric consultation. 2.2% in 2012 to 2.7% in 2016 had delirium according to the exit letter. That is 3% of 65‐75 year olds and 8% of those over 75. 102 consecutive files of geriatric nursing consultations from November 2016 are reviewed. 63 new diagnoses of delirium with an average of 3 recommendations from the AAPA to the treatment team.ConclusionDelirium remains under‐documented at release and improves little from 2012 to 2021. The modalities of use of the current tools remain insensitive. The support of geriatric consultation teams remains necessary to support the development of AAPA against delirium.

Assessing frailty in elderly patients with hip fractures: A retrospective review comparing geriatrician and orthopedic trainee assessments.

To assess the correlation of orthopedic surgery residents compared with expert geriatricians in the assessment of frailty stage using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) in patients with hip fractures. A retrospective chart review was performed from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2019. Patients admitted with a diagnosis of hip fracture were identified. Those patients with a CFS score completed by orthopedic residents with subsequent CFS score completed by a geriatrician during their admission were extracted. Six hundred and forty-eight patients over age 60 (mean 80.5 years, 73.5% female) were admitted during the study period. Orthopaedic residents completed 286 assessments in 44% of admissions. Geriatric medicine consultation was available for 215 patients such that 93 patients were assessed by both teams. Paired CFS data were extracted from the charts and tested for agreement between the 2 groups of raters. CFS assessments by orthopedic residents and geriatrician experts were significantly different at P < .05; orthopedic residents typically assessed patients to be one CFS grade less frail than geriatricians. Despite this, the CFS assessments showed good agreement between residents and geriatricians. Orthopaedic surgery residents are reliable assessors of frailty but tend to underestimate frailty level compared with specialist geriatricians. Given the evidence to support models such as orthogeriatrics to improve outcomes for frail patients, our findings suggest that orthopedic residents may be well positioned to identify patients who could benefit from such early interventions. Our findings also support recent evidence that frailty assessments by orthopedic surgeons may have predictive validity. Low rates of initial frailty assessment by orthopedic residents suggests that further work is required to integrate more global comprehensive care.

A population-based study of health care system factors associated with receipt of treatment and treatment intent in stage III non-small cell lung cancer.

146 Background: Stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a disease with a spectrum of anatomic extent, patient health status, and treatment approaches. When health care quality is optimal, receipt of treatment and its intent should be independent of health system factors. We investigated whether modifiable health care system-level factors are associated with receipt of treatment and treatment intent in stage III NSCLC. Methods: This was a population-based, retrospective cohort study using health administrative data covering nearly the whole population of Ontario, Canada (15 million) from 2010-2018 for people with AJCC 7 or 8 stage III NSCLC aged ≥20 years. System factors were: treatment era, diagnostic interval, health region of residence, travel distance, and volume of advanced radiotherapy and systemic therapy. The health region is responsible for administering regional cancer care. The relative risk (RR) of (1) any treatment versus no treatment, and (2) palliative-intent versus curative-intent treatment was determined, using multivariable Poisson regression models. We adjusted for patient, disease, and treatment factors, including age, sex, rurality, income quintile, substage, comorbidity, histology, and use of PET imaging. Results: 7,093 people with stage III NSCLC diagnosed between 2010 and 2018 were identified. There were differences between groups in patient, disease, and treatment factors. For example, factors associated with no treatment include advanced age (e.g. adjusted RR [95% confidence interval]: 80+ vs. 20-64, 0.83 [0.80-0.87]), greater Elixhauser comorbidity score (e.g. 3+ vs. 0, 0.88 [0.84-0.92]), dementia (RR: 0.78 [0.70-0.87]), palliative care consultation (RR: 0.92 [0.89-0.94]) and geriatrics consultation (RR: 0.82 [0.71-0.95]) (all p&lt;0.05). On multivariable stepwise analysis adjusting for these factors, no system factors were associated with receipt of treatment versus no treatment. For those treated, patient, disease, and treatment factors associated with palliative intent were similar. Over time, there was increasing utilization of immunotherapy and advanced radiotherapy (e.g., VMAT, IMRT) (treatment eras: 2010-2012 vs. 2013-2015 vs. 2016-2018). The major system factor associated with palliative intent treatment amongst those treated was health region of residence (RR: ranges from 0.88 to 1.67, p&lt;0.001), which remained after stratifying analysis by treatment era. Conclusions: Even with increasing adoption of advanced radiotherapy and systemic therapy over time, health region of residence emerged as the major health system-level factor associated with choice of treatment intent for stage III NSCLC after adjusting for patient, disease, and treatment factors. Our study suggests possible opportunities to improve care outcomes by addressing unexplained regional variation in care.

Effects of the implementation of the dynamic silver code in the emergency department

BackgroundOlder persons accessing the Emergency Department (ED) spend more time and are at increased risk of poor outcomes. The Dynamic Silver Code (DSC), based on administrative data, predicts mortality of 75+ subjects visiting the ED. ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of the implementation of the DSC in the ED. MethodsA pre-post comparison was conducted in the ED of a community hospital in Florence, Italy before and after the DSC was fully implemented. In the post-DSC phase, a clinical decision tree was applied: patients at low-mild risk (DSC class I and II) were assigned to Internal Medicine, those at moderate risk (class III) to Geriatrics, and those at high risk (class IV) required geriatric consultation before assignment. Outcome measures were ED length of stay (LOS) and, in patients admitted to Geriatrics, weight of the Diagnosis Related Groups (DRG), hospital LOS, and mortality. Results7,270 patients were enrolled in the pre-DSC and 4,725 in the post-DSC phase. ED LOS decreased from a median of 380 [206, 958] in the pre-DSC to 318 [178, 655] min in the post-DSC period (p<0.001). Class III represented the largest share of admissions to Geriatrics in the post-DSC period (57.7 % vs. 38.3 %; p<0.001). In patients admitted to Geriatrics, hospital LOS decreased by one day (p = 0.006) between the two study periods, with greater DRG weight and comparable mortality. ConclusionsApplication of the DSC seemed to ease patient flow and to reduce LOS of older patients in the ED and increased appropriateness of admissions to Geriatrics.

Older patients referred for geriatric consultation in the emergency department: characteristics and healthcare utilization

BackgroundComprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is difficult to perform in the emergency department (ED) environment and performance of screening tools in identifying vulnerable older ED patients who are best candidates for a geriatric consultation remain questionable.AimTo determine the characteristics of older patients referred for a geriatric consultation by ED staff and to investigate these patients’ subsequent healthcare utilization.MethodsSecondary analysis of data previously collected for a prospective observational study of patients aged 75 + years visiting the ED of an academic hospital in Switzerland over four months (Michalski-Monnerat et al., J Am Geriatr Soc 68(12):2914–20, 2020). Socio-demographic, health, functional (basic activities of daily living; BADL), cognitive, and affective status data were collected at admission by a research nurse using a standardized brief geriatric assessment. Information on geriatric consultations, hospitalization, discharge destination, and 30-day readmission were retrieved from hospital database. Bivariable and multivariable analyses were performed using this data set collected previously.ResultsThirty-two (15.8%) of the 202 enrolled patients were referred for a geriatric consultation. Compared to the others, they were older (84.9 ± 5.4 vs 82.9 ± 5.4 years, p = .03), more impaired in BADL (4.8 ± 1.6 vs 5.5 ± 1.0, p = .01), with more comorbid conditions (5.3 ± 1.5 vs 4.5 ± 1.9, p = .03), more frequently admitted after a fall (43.7% vs 19.4%, p = .01), and hospitalized over the previous 6-month period (53.1% vs 30.6%, p = .02). Multivariable analyses that adjusted for variables significantly associated with outcomes in bivariable analysis found that being admitted after a fall (AdjOR 4.0, 95%CI 1.7–9.4, p < .01) and previously hospitalized (AdjOR 2.7, 95% CI 1.2–6.2, p = .02) remained associated with increased odds of consultation, whereas the inverse association with BADL performance remained (AdjOR 0.7, 95%CI 0.5–0.9, p = .01).Patients referred for geriatric consultation had higher odds of hospitalization (84.4% vs 49.4%; AdjOR 5.9, 95%CI 2.1–16.8, p < .01), but similar odds of home discharge when admitted, and of 30-day readmission.ConclusionAbout one in six older ED patients were referred for a geriatric consultation who appeared to be those most vulnerable, as suggested by their increased hospitalization rate. Alternative strategies are needed to enhance access to geriatric consultation in the ED.

Validation of the ICEBERG emergency room screening tool for early identification of older patients with geriatric consultation needs.

The growing number of older and oldest-old patients often present in the emergency room (ER) with undiagnosed geriatric syndromes posing them at high risk for complications in acute care. To develop and validate an ER screening tool (ICEBERG) to capture 9 geriatric domains of risk in older patients. For construct validity we performed a chart-based study in 129 ER patients age 70 years and older admitted to acute geriatric care (pilot 1). For criterion validity we performed a prospective study in 288 ER patients age 70 years and older admitted to acute care (pilot 2). In both validation steps, the exposure was ICEBERG test performance below and above the median score (10, range 0-30). In pilot 1, we compared the exposure with results of nine tests of the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA). In pilot 2, we compared the exposure assessed in the ER to following length of hospital stay (LOS), one-on-one nursing care needs, in-hospital mortality, 30-day re-admission rate, and discharge to a nursing home. Mean age was 82.9 years (SD 6.7; n = 129) in pilot 1, and 81.5 years (SD 7.0; n = 288) in pilot 2. In pilot 1, scoring ≥10 was associated with significantly worse performance in 8 of 9 of the individual CGA tests. In pilot 2, scoring ≥10 resulted in longer average LOS (median 7 days, IQR 4, 11 vs. 6 days, IQR 3, 8) and higher nursing care needs (median 1,838 min, IQR 901, 4,267 vs. median 1,393 min, IQR 743, 2,390). Scoring ≥10 also increased the odds of one-on-one nursing care 2.9-fold (OR 2.86, 95%CI 1.17-6.98), and the odds of discharge to a nursing home 3.7-fold (OR 3.70, 95%CI 1.74-7.85). Further, scoring ≥10 was associated with higher in-hospital mortality and re-hospitalization rates, however not reaching statistical significance. Average time to complete the ICEBERG tool was 4.3 min (SD 1.3). Our validation studies support construct validity of the ICEBERG tool with the CGA, and criterion validity with several clinical indicators in acute care.

301 Role of comprehensive geriatric assessment in determining appropriateness of admission to long term care

Abstract Background The benefit of comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) in supporting discharge to home from hospital for older people has been identified. When discharge to long term care (LTC) is considered by generalist teams, through determination of potential for further remediation and support, as well as vigilance for elder abuse and inappropriate third-party pressure, CGA supports continued living at home. Although European guidelines recommend, and Irish policy mandates, CGA prior to consideration of entry to LTC, it is not clear to what extent this is routinely undertaken. We aimed to determine the value of CGA in supported continued living at home when entry to LTC is proposed by referring clinical teams. Methods Review of electronic system of geriatric medicine consultations for assessment for LTC in a Level 4 teaching hospital. Information on discharge destination was retrieved from discharge summaries and electronic patient management systems. Results Of 740 consultations over 14 months between 2020 and 2021, 99 were for assessment for LTC. At review at 8 months, of 49 (49%) discharges to LTC, 42 (42%) were discharged as new residents, 4 (4%) were existing residents and 3 (3%) were discharged for end of life care. Of those for whom CGA recommended alternatives, 22 (22%) went directly home, 7 (7%) were discharged to offsite rehabilitation, 10 (10%) remained inpatients, and 8 (8%) died during admission. Conclusion This review highlights the importance and value of the role of CGA in planning discharge destination, a key if under-emphasised role for Irish geriatricians. Only 42% of the consults were discharged to LTC as a new permanent residence. This supports previous recommendations to routinely incorporate CGA when entry to LTC is considered, ensuring the most appropriate discharge destination for patients with significant multi-morbidity and complex care needs.

17 The case for more specialist geriatric wards: redesigning health systems to meet the needs of older persons

Abstract Background The National Clinical Programme for Older Persons outlines that each hospital should have a dedicated Specialist Geriatric Ward (SGW) with appropriate staffing and access to Health and Social Care Professionals. As part of a quality improvement initiative to drive the development of a new SGW, we examined what proportion of older medical admissions had care needs that would be best served in a Specialist Geriatric Ward. Methods We completed a retrospective cohort study of unselected medical admissions over a two week period in a level four hospital. We established criteria that would deem a patient suitable for admission to a specialist geriatric ward and examined the journey of patients who were or were not admitted under the care of Geriatric Medicine. Results In total over the two week period there were 307 admissions, with 144 over the age of 75 years (47%). Over half of patients had more than one bed moves during their inpatient stay. 78% were frail. 109 (75%) of patients would have been eligible for care on a specialist geriatric ward. 20% of the over 75 year olds were admitted under the care of Geriatrics. 72% of the remaining patients admitted under general medical teams would have met the criteria for care on a specialist geriatric ward. 20% of this cohort had a review by the frailty at the front door team with 23% having an inpatient geriatric medicine consult. Conclusion A significant proportion of older adults being admitted have care needs that would benefit from coordinated care on a specialist geriatric ward. Patients receive input from geriatric medicine through a variety of avenues but there is a need for increased access to specialist geriatric inpatient wards. This would improve patient access to the Right Care, in the Right Place at the Right Time.