Implementing a standardised geriatric assessment proforma across primary and secondary care

Principal Investigator: Dr Jay Banerjee

Other Key Staff: Sandra Campbell, Firoza Musa, Professor Richard Baker, Paul Sinfield, Dr Simon Conroy, Dr Elizabeth Siddons, David Anderson

Partners Involved: University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicestershire Partnership Trust, NHS Leicester City, NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland, University of Leicester, NHS East Midlands.

Summary:
Over the next 20 years, the number of people aged 85 and over is set to increase by two-thirds, compared with a 10% growth in the overall population. Optimising the management of older people in urgent and emergency care will be a major challenge. Older people currently make up 17% of Emergency Department (ED) attendances at the UHL NHS Trust, including 6,500 people with falls & 750 people with hip fractures each year. Patients aged over 75 have a 71% conversion rate following attendance at ED. They account for 50% of acute medical admissions and once admitted, remain in hospital for a median length of 9 days.

A proforma incorporating the validated Identification of Seniors At Risk (ISAR) tool can be used to identify those at risk of functional decline, readmission and death (Sensitivity of 94%, specificity of 58% at 6 months). This project is funded by the NHS Regional Innovation Fund.

Aims:
The aims of the project is to impact on falls and bone health management, prevent readmission and reduce length of hospital stay by planning and delivering a system innovation to ensure sharing of information and knowledge of a specialised geriatric assessment tool among the clinicians in primary and secondary care to help them target patients and prioritise resources.

Further Information:
For further information please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it on 0116 258 5275.
A PowerPoint presentation explains the rationale behind the information sharing of the ISAR score.

Start Date: Jan 2011                                                                                                    Expected End Date: End Dec 2012

Project Outcomes:

• Referrals to Falls Services will increase.
• Prescribing for calcium/vitamin D3 will increase.
• Reduced numbers of admissions from ED to hospital for falls.

Lay information summary of potential benefits to the population of Leicester and Leicestershire:

• Success in this project would envisage a reduction in hospital re-attendance and/or re-admissions in the over 70’s population.
• Preventing two re-admissions per week would save at least £100,000 per year.
• Patient continuity of care would be improved as information is shared between hospital & GP.