Effectiveness of an inpatient geriatric service in a university hospital

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of an acute interdisciplinary inpatient geriatric service in a university hospital.

Design: Prospective randomized control study.

Setting: Large urban university hospital.

Patients: 40 consecutive inpatients, randomized for inclusion on the geriatric service (study patients, n = 20) or to continue usual hospital care (control patients, n = 20) from among the geriatric consult population.

Main outcome measures: Subjects were followed for changes in length of stay, hospital costs, diagnostic testing, pharmacy use, functional status, discharge disposition, and readmission within 30 days after hospitalization.

Results: Mean age of patients study 79.2 years (control 73.9 years). Sixty percent of study patients went home and 30% to nursing homes (control 20% home, 65% nursing homes) P = .03. Total length of stay mean 20.3 days study (control 32.7 days), length of stay after randomization mean 7.7 days study (control 11.2 days), mean overall hospital costs $23,906 study (control $45,189), and mean hospital costs after randomization study $4,671 (control $9,404) were not significantly different by F-tests due to wide variability. Laboratory use was reduced with mean 4.4 tests study (control 16.9) P = .01 and mean laboratory costs $263 study (control $828) P = .02. Functional ability improved (scale 1-7) with mean improvement study 0.8 (control 0.3) P = .09. Mean number of medications were lower in the study group by 30% P = .02; mean cost of medications at discharge was reduced with study $38 (control $112); and mean pharmacy charges after randomization decreased $462 study (control $1,268) P = .06. Readmission 30 days after discharge was not significantly different (study 21%, control 33%).

Conclusions: An interdisciplinary acute geriatric service can be cost effective in providing care to elderly patients in a university hospital. It can improve outcomes measured by decreased laboratory and pharmacy usage, improved functional status, and discharge to a lesser level of care without increasing length of stay or early readmission after discharge.