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. 2014 Jan;43(1):109-14.
doi: 10.1093/ageing/aft087. Epub 2013 Jul 23.

A controlled evaluation of comprehensive geriatric assessment in the emergency department: the 'Emergency Frailty Unit'

Simon Paul Conroy  1 , Kharwar Ansari, Mark Williams, Emily Laithwaite, Ben Teasdale, Jeremey Dawson, Suzanne Mason, Jay Banerjee
Affiliations

A controlled evaluation of comprehensive geriatric assessment in the emergency department: the 'Emergency Frailty Unit'

Simon Paul Conroy et al. Age Ageing. 2014 Jan.

Abstract

Background: the ageing demographic means that increasing numbers of older people will be attending emergency departments (EDs). Little previous research has focused on the needs of older people in ED and there have been no evaluations of comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) embedded within the ED setting.

Methods: a pre-post cohort study of the impact of embedding CGA within a large ED in the East Midlands, UK. The primary outcome was admission avoidance from the ED, with readmissions, length of stay and bed-day use as secondary outcomes.

Results: attendances to ED increased in older people over the study period, whereas the ED conversion rate fell from 69.6 to 61.2% in people aged 85+, and readmission rates in this group fell from 26.0% at 90 days to 19.9%. In-patient bed-day use increased slightly, as did the mean length of stay.

Discussion: it is possible to embed CGA within EDs, which is associated with improvements in operational outcomes.

Keywords: CGA; comprehensive geriatric assessment; emergency medicine; health services research; older people.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Summary comparison of usual care and the EFU.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • Statistician's view.
    Dewey M. Dewey M. Age Ageing. 2014 Jan;43(1):115. doi: 10.1093/ageing/aft179. Epub 2013 Nov 19. Age Ageing. 2014. PMID: 24257469 No abstract available.
  • Clinician's view.
    Parker S. Parker S. Age Ageing. 2014 Jan;43(1):115. doi: 10.1093/ageing/aft180. Epub 2013 Dec 4. Age Ageing. 2014. PMID: 24311608 No abstract available.

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