Table 1.

Patient eligibility criteria for participation in Hospital at Home trial

Inclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria

Age 65 years of age and older Cognitive impairment, that is, dementia, delirium or other cause of cognitive impairment, and either  Previously diagnosed or documented in the medical records or Identified by the ED clinician (eg, with the 4AT test and/or six-item cognitive impairment test)42–44 Presented at the ED with a defined acute illness Required hospital admission, according to the attending ED physician but not expected to require emergency interventions,  Modified Early Warning Score ≤2 points45–47 Living in hospital’s catchment area (<25 km) Informal caregiver is present and able to understand and perform instructions and consented to participate in the trial Home suitable for Hospital at Home care (available informal caregiver, running water, adequate heating, safety)44

Previously enrolled Hospitalised within the 7 days preceding ED presentation Nursing home residents or awaiting a nursing home place on an active waiting list (excluding so-called sleeping waiting list candidates)27 Additional care needed:  Required surgical assessment Suspected acute coronary syndrome or cardiac arrythmia45 Dialysis dependent patients45 Expected terminal events45 or in need of diagnostic or palliative care due to oncological or haematological illness

ED, emergency department.