Background: The efficiency of the fast-track (FT) process in the management of patients in Emergency Departments is well demonstrated, but there is a lack of research focused on older adults. The aim of our study was to verify whether the FT process is efficient and safe for older adults admitted to ED. Methods: Observational case-control single-centre study. Results: Five hundred four cases and 504 controls were analysed. The mean age was 75 years, and there was a predominance of women. In total 96% of subjects were classified with a "less-urgent" tag. The length of stay was significantly lower in the fast-track group than in the control group (median 178 min, interquartile range 184 min, and 115 min, interquartile range 69 min, respectively, p < 0.001), as well as the time spent between the ED physician's visit and patient discharge (median 78 min, interquartile range 120 min, and median 3 min, interquartile range 6 min, respectively, p < 0.001). There weren't any increases in the number of unplanned readmissions within 48 h, 7 days and 30 days. Conclusions: The fast-track appears to be an efficient and safe strategy to improve the management of older adults admitted to the ED with minor complaints.

Is the fast-track process efficient and safe for older adults admitted to the emergency department? / Gasperini, B.; Pierri, F.; Espinosa, E.; Fazi, A.; Maracchini, G.; Cherubini, A.. - In: BMC GERIATRICS. - ISSN 1471-2318. - ELETTRONICO. - 20:1(2020), p. 154. [10.1186/s12877-020-01536-5]

Is the fast-track process efficient and safe for older adults admitted to the emergency department?

Espinosa E.
Supervision
;
Cherubini A.
2020-01-01

Abstract

Background: The efficiency of the fast-track (FT) process in the management of patients in Emergency Departments is well demonstrated, but there is a lack of research focused on older adults. The aim of our study was to verify whether the FT process is efficient and safe for older adults admitted to ED. Methods: Observational case-control single-centre study. Results: Five hundred four cases and 504 controls were analysed. The mean age was 75 years, and there was a predominance of women. In total 96% of subjects were classified with a "less-urgent" tag. The length of stay was significantly lower in the fast-track group than in the control group (median 178 min, interquartile range 184 min, and 115 min, interquartile range 69 min, respectively, p < 0.001), as well as the time spent between the ED physician's visit and patient discharge (median 78 min, interquartile range 120 min, and median 3 min, interquartile range 6 min, respectively, p < 0.001). There weren't any increases in the number of unplanned readmissions within 48 h, 7 days and 30 days. Conclusions: The fast-track appears to be an efficient and safe strategy to improve the management of older adults admitted to the ED with minor complaints.
2020
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11566/283306
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