Acute hospital admissions from nursing homes

Project summary

The geriatric nursing home population is vulnerable to acute incidences in their health condition, due to longevity, multiple chronic illnesses and a low level of physical and mental function.

The overall aims of this study were to describe acute hosptial admissions from norwegian nursing homes; investigate and explain the variation in admission rates between nursing homes, and systematically review the effects of interventions to reduce hosptialisations from nursing homes.

Method

Population-based observational data were used, with electronic patient journals as the main source of data for the observational studies. For two consecutive years (01.01.2007-31.12.2008), acute admissions from 38 nursing homes were identified through ambulance records.

A systematic review of the effects of interventions to reduce hospitalisations from nursing homes was conducted, in collaboration with the Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services.