Prevention and management of geriatric syndromes

The Department of Geriatric Medicine has maintained a comprehensive database of all admission since 2001. As well as standard demographic data, this database records up to 15 clinical diagnoses (including those due to hospitalisation), geriatric syndromes including falls, functional measures, a frailty scale, and discharge destination. Consultations undertaken by the geriatricians are also recorded. The ACRU has a strong interest in casemix and the database has been useful in this regard.

The database has led to a number of publications, including a comprehensive quantitative report that analysed the characteristics, functional measures, inpatient care and discharge destination for over 3,000 hospital admissions under Geriatric Medicine, together with more than 4,000 consultations. This work is being developed further by obtaining long-term outcome data on these patients. Data linkage is being done in collaboration with the NSW Centre for Health Record Linkage, with funding support from the NSW Clinical Excellence Commission.

Publications

Huynh E, Basic D, Gonzales R, Shanley C. Structured interdisciplinary bedside rounds (SIBR) do not reduce length of hospital stay and 28-day readmission rate among older people hospitalised with acute illness: an Australian study. Australian Health Review. doi:10.1071/AH16019.

Basic D, Khoo A. New medical diagnoses and length of stay of acutely unwell older patients: implications for funding models. Australasian Journal on Ageing 2015; 34: 160-165.

Basic D, Shanley C. Frailty in an older inpatient population: using the Clinical Frailty Scale to predict patient outcomes. Journal of Aging and Health 2015; 27: 670-685.

Basic D, Hartwell T. Falls in hospital and new placement in a nursing home among older people hospitalized with acute illness. Clinical Interventions in Aging 2015; 10: 1637-1643.

Basic D, Khoo A. Admission variables predicting short lengths of stay of acutely unwell older patients: relevance to emergency and medical short-stay units. Australian Health Review 2009; 33: 502-512.

Jayaratnam S, Khoo A, Basic D. Rapidly progressive Alzheimer’s disease and elevated 14-3-3 proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid. Age and Ageing 2008; 37: 467-469.

Large J, Gan N, Basic D, Jennings N. Using the Timed Up and Go test to stratify elderly inpatients at risk of falls. Clinical Rehabilitation 2006; 20: 421-428.

Gan N, Large J, Basic D, Jennings N. The Timed Up and Go Test does not predict length of stay on an acute geriatric ward. Australian Journal of Physiotherapy 2006; 52: 141-144.

Basic D. Acute care of the older patient: comprehensive assessment and outcome data: Aged Care Unit, Liverpool Hospital 2001-2005. Aged Care Research Unit, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia (publication no. ISBN 978-1-74079-089-5).