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Acute Care for Elders pp 21–47Cite as

Patient and Hospital Factors That Lead to Adverse Outcomes in Hospitalized Elders

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Part of the book series: Aging Medicine ((AGME))

Abstract

Hospitalization is a sentinel event in the life of an older person. Despite appropriate treatment for the reason for admission to the hospital, older adults suffer high rates of hospitalization-associated disability (HAD) and other complications such as delirium, falls, and pressure ulcers with long-term consequences. HAD carries a poor prognosis for further disability, nursing home placement, and increased mortality and confers significant costs to patients, families, and society. Patients at risk for HAD can be identified and hospital processes of care that contribute to HAD are well known. The Acute Care for Elders (ACE) model of care addresses both patient and hospital-level risk factors and has demonstrated its effectiveness in reducing HAD, improving patient satisfaction, while reducing costs compared to usual care. The ACE model of care achieves the triple aim of improving care, improving patient satisfaction, and reducing costs.

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Abbreviations

ACE:

Acute Care for Elders

ADE:

Adverse drug event

ADL:

Activity of daily living

AHRQ:

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

EPESE:

Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly

HAD:

Hospitalization-associated disability

HARP:

Hospital admission risk profile

HAPU:

Hospital-acquired pressure ulcer

IADL:

Instrumental activity of daily living

LSA:

Life-Space Assessment

PEP:

Precipitating Events Project

PIM:

Potentially inappropriate Medication

RCT:

Randomized controlled trial

RN:

Registered nurse

SNF:

Skilled nursing facility

PRODIGE:

PROgettoDImissioni in GEriatria Study

STRATIFY:

St. Thomas Risk Assessment Tool in Falling Elderly

STOPP:

Screening Tool of Older Persons’ potentially inappropriate Prescriptions

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, 1001 Potrero Avenue, Room 5H17, San Francisco, CA, 94110, USA

    Edgar Pierluissi M.D.

  2. Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, 6600 Bruceville Road, South Sacramento, CA, 95823, USA

    Deborah C. Francis R.N., M.S.N., G.C.N.S.-B.C.

  3. UCSF Division of Geriatrics, 4150 Clement Street, #181G, San Francisco, CA, 94121, USA

    Kenneth E. Covinsky M.D., M.P.H.

Authors
  1. Edgar Pierluissi M.D.
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  2. Deborah C. Francis R.N., M.S.N., G.C.N.S.-B.C.
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  3. Kenneth E. Covinsky M.D., M.P.H.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Edgar Pierluissi M.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Aurora Sinai Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

    Michael L. Malone

  2. Hunter College, New York, New York, USA

    Elizabeth A. Capezuti

  3. Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia, USA

    Robert M. Palmer

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Pierluissi, E., Francis, D.C., Covinsky, K.E. (2014). Patient and Hospital Factors That Lead to Adverse Outcomes in Hospitalized Elders. In: Malone, M., Capezuti, E., Palmer, R. (eds) Acute Care for Elders. Aging Medicine. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1025-0_3

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