TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluation of a care pathway for older adults presenting with nonspecific complaints at the emergency department: a before-and-after study
AU - van der Velde, Marleen
AU - Jansen, M.A.C.
AU - Haak, Harm
AU - Tournoij, I.P.B.
AU - Jonkers, F.S.
AU - Haak, H.R.
AU - Kremers, Marjolein
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2025.
PY - 2025/5/7
Y1 - 2025/5/7
N2 - Aim: Management of older patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) with nonspecific complaints (NSC) is challenging. Therefore we implemented a structured care-pathway aiming to optimise diagnostics and treatment of this vulnerable population. Findings: NSC-patients showed increased comorbidities, polypharmacy and frailty. The implementation of the care-pathway showed non-significant trends towards improved diagnostic completeness, which might be associated with the reduced rate of 30-day readmissions. Patient reported outcomes measured in the intervention group, indicated a positive experience with the quality of care. Message: NSC-patients are a complex ED-population. The NSC-pathway showed trends towards improved diagnostic completeness and reduced 30-day readmission rates, but did not improve LOS-ED and LOS-H. Adaptation of the NSC-pathway could enhance effective and efficient care for this population.
AB - Aim: Management of older patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) with nonspecific complaints (NSC) is challenging. Therefore we implemented a structured care-pathway aiming to optimise diagnostics and treatment of this vulnerable population. Findings: NSC-patients showed increased comorbidities, polypharmacy and frailty. The implementation of the care-pathway showed non-significant trends towards improved diagnostic completeness, which might be associated with the reduced rate of 30-day readmissions. Patient reported outcomes measured in the intervention group, indicated a positive experience with the quality of care. Message: NSC-patients are a complex ED-population. The NSC-pathway showed trends towards improved diagnostic completeness and reduced 30-day readmission rates, but did not improve LOS-ED and LOS-H. Adaptation of the NSC-pathway could enhance effective and efficient care for this population.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105004466401&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s41999-025-01226-8
DO - 10.1007/s41999-025-01226-8
M3 - Article
C2 - 40335863
SN - 1878-7649
JO - European Geriatric Medicine
JF - European Geriatric Medicine
M1 - e840
ER -