Abstract
A joint admitting policy between a general physician and a physician in medicine for the elderly reduced the length of stay in acute medical beds by 25% without increasing the length of stay in rehabilitation beds. The basis for the cooperation was not related to age but rather to the perceived needs of the patient on admission. This method of integration between medicine and geriatrics could be implemented in most hospitals.
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Contributor Information
Katharine A McLean, Senior Registrar.
Christopher A Austin, Consultant Physician Department of Health Care of the Elderly, Nether Edge Hospital, Sheffield.
Keith R Neal, Lecturer, Department of Public Health Medicine and Epidemiology, University of Nottingham.
Kevin S Channer, Consultant Physician, Department of Cardiology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield.