McDonald, T. A., 2008
Canadian Association of Gerontology (CAG) London, Ontario
ABSTRACT
Background: Anecdotal reports of unsafe practices associated with older hospital patients were investigated. Using national statements on standards for hospital care of older people, a survey gathered aged care providers’ views on whether hospitals meet standards they set for themselves.
Objective: The aim was to determine the extent to which anecdotal reports of mistreatment of older people in care by hospital and transport staff were true.
Methods: A national survey of aged care homes invited their stories and responses to the anecdotal evidence provided in an information letter and a printed form or email address for them to respond.
Results: Problem areas identified included: Timing of transfers from hospitals (70.89%); Coordination problems (51.21%);Information on resident’s condition (72.51%); Appropriate hospital management of mentally confused patients (41.42%); Nutritional status of patients on discharge (28.30%); Skin integrity status of patients on discharge (66.04%); Adequate documentation of medical and nursing treatment in hospital (78.17%); Information provided by hospital clinicians to patients’ families (50.67%); and Medication regime prescribed by medical staff prior to patient leaving hospital (63.43%). A concurrent evaluation of hospital performance against national standards revealed an equally poor result.
Conclusions: Responses by aged care professional provide a worrying perception of hospital performance related to the care and safety of older people. The issues identified and recommendations made within this report have provided a basis upon which more effective consultation, hospital quality monitoring, management and safe, caring practice can be built.
CITATION McDonald T.A. (2008) Is CARE still part of health care? A report on hospital care of older Australians. Canadian Assoc. Gerontology 37th Annual Scientific and Educational meeting “Aging Globally and Locally: Seeing the forest and the trees” London, Ontario 23-26 October.
NOTE McDonald, T. (2007) For Their Sake: Can we improve the quality and safety of resident transfers from acute hospitals to residential aged care? The full report can be accessed at traceymcdonald.info/Content/resources/documents/For_their_sake_REPORT.pdf For the executive summary: traceymcdonald.info/Content/resources/documents/for_their_sake__EXECUTIVE_SUMMARY_oct_07.pdf