Medical emergency response in a sub-acute hospital: improving the model of care for deteriorating patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency, characteristics and outcomes of medical emergency response (MER) calls in a sub-acute hospital setting. METHODS: The present study was a retrospective observational study in a sub-acute hospital providing aged care, palliative care, rehabilitation, veteran's mental health and elective surgical services. We assessed annual MER call numbers between 2005 and 2011 in the context of contemporaneous changes to hospital services. We also assessed MER calls over a 12-month period in detail using standardised case report forms and the scanned medical record. RESULTS: There were 2285 multiday admissions in the study period where 141 MER calls were triggered in 132 patients (61.7 calls per 1000 admissions). The median patient age was 83.0 years, and 55.3% of patients were men. Most calls occurred on weekdays and during the daytime, and were triggered by altered conscious state, low oxygen saturations and hypotension. Documentation of escalation of care before the MER call was not present in 99 of 141 (70.2%) calls. Following the call, in 70 of 141 (49.6%) cases, the patient was transferred to the acute campus, where 52 (74.2%) and 14 (20%) patients required ward and intensive care level treatment, respectively. Thirty-seven of 132 (28%) patients died. A palliative care physician adjudicated that most of these patients who died (24/37; 64.9%) were appropriate for a call, but that 19 (51.4%) should have received palliation at the time of the call. Compared with survivors, patients who died after the MER call were more likely originally admitted from supported accommodation. CONCLUSIONS: MER calls in our sub-acute hospital occurred in elderly patients and are associated with an in-hospital mortality of 28%. A small proportion of patients required intensive care level treatment. There is a need to improve processes involving escalation of care before MER call activation and to revise advance care directives. What is known about this topic? Rapid response team (RRT) activation has been well described in the acute hospital setting. Although the impact on survival benefit to patients remains controversial, it has been widely adopted as a model of care to respond to deteriorating ward patients. This is particularly relevant in Australia at present with the implementation of the new National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards. What does this paper add? There have not been any previous papers published on rapid response systems in a sub-acute hospital. This paper describes some of the changes and challenges associated with increasing RRT activations in a sub-acute health care facility. What are the implications for practitioners? For clinicians in a sub-acute setting, the study reinforces the importance of pre-emptively documenting and communicating advance care directives. In addition, it is important to identify patients with reversible pathology likely to benefit from transfer and acute care, and to avoid the transfer of those who will not and, instead, provide appropriate palliation. For practitioners involved in models of care for deteriorating patients, the study provides information on where problems occurred in our system and the strategies used to address these issues.

Falls as a complication of diabetes mellitus in older people.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to determine the incidence of falls in a group of elderly patients with diabetes and to assess for the prevalence of risk factors for falls in this population. DESIGN: This is a population-based study with questionnaire-based interviews. SETTING: The setting for this study was the London District General Hospital outpatient department. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-seven patients with diabetes, aged over 65 years, randomly selected whilst attending for general diabetic annual review. Patients with dementia, blindness, and immobility and those who were unable to give informed consent were excluded from this study. MEASUREMENTS: The incidence of falls in the last 12 months was used. Information was collected on the incidence of hypoglycaemic episodes, the presence of other medical conditions, visual impairment, and peripheral neuropathy, the use of medications and walking aids, and HbA1C and blood pressure control. RESULTS: The incidence of falls was 39%. Falls occurred more frequently in female patients and patients of increasing age. Falls occurred more frequently in patients with poor diabetic control [risk ratio (RR)=7.83 (2.948-20.799), chi2 value=6.422]; patients requiring assistance with mobility: for those mobile with a stick [RR=1.839 (1.048-3.227), chi2=4.619]; and those who had previously suffered a stroke [RR=1.929 (1.143-3.257), chi2=4.615]. CONCLUSION: We provide evidence that poorly controlled diabetes and conditions associated with complications of diabetes are associated with an increased risk of falling in older people. We recommend early recognition of the multiple causes of falls in the older diabetic patient and prompt referral of this group of patients to a specialist falls clinic.