An ESD Model of Care for Older Adults Admitted to Hospital: a Protocol for a Descriptive Cohort Study

University of Limerick

Overview

The MidWest multidisciplinary Community Intervention Teams (MD-CIT) comprise of specialist, healthcare teams that provide a rapid and integrated response to a patient with an acute episode of illness who requires enhanced services/acute intervention for a defined short period of time in the MidWest of Ireland. This is provided in the patient's home, thereby facilitating early discharge from the acute hospital setting. The investigators are performing an evaluation of the MDCIT service provided to older adults admitted to UL Hospitals Group. The investigators will assess patients in hospital, at 30 days and at a six months.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Conditions

Aging Hospitalization Function

Interventions

MDCIT InterventionOTHER

The MidWest Multidisciplinary Community Intervention Teams (MDCIT) comprise of specialist, healthcare teams that provide a rapid and integrated response to a patient with an acute episode of illness who requires enhanced services/acute intervention for a defined short period of time. This is provided in the patient's home after an acute hospital admission, thereby facilitating early discharge. The MDCIT intervention is composed of occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and healthcare assistants, with nursing support as required. The MDCIT therapists aim to make their first visit to patients within 24-48 hours of hospital discharge. Patients receive two-three visits per week, over a period of two to four weeks dependant on the patient's rehabilitation needs. Upon discharge from the MDCIT service, patients can be referred to community services as indicated by therapists.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 65 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Older adults ≥ 65 years who are discharged home (community dwelling) from ULHG with a referral to the MDCIT service between December 2022 and June 2023 will be deemed eligible for recruitment Exclusion Criteria: * Those aged \< 65 years discharged home from ULHG and referred to the MDCIT service * Those deemed to not have decision making capacity to provide informed consent

Locations (1)

University Hospital Limerick

Limerick, Ireland

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Functional Ability

Function will be measured using the Barthel Index (BI). The BI scores a patient from 0-20, with a higher score indicating greater independence.

Time frame: This will be measured at baseline.

Functional Ability

Function will be measured using the Barthel Index (BI). The BI scores a patient from 0-20, with a higher score indicating greater independence.

Time frame: This will be measured at 30 days.

Functional Ability

Function will be measured using the Barthel Index (BI). The BI scores a patient from 0-20, with a higher score indicating greater independence.

Time frame: This will be measured at 180 days.

Secondary Outcomes

Frailty Score

Frailty will be measured using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS). The CFS screens for frailty in older adults, with a minimum score of 1 considered least frail and a maximum score of 9 indicating severe frailty.

Time frame: This will be measured at baseline.

Frailty Score

Time frame: This will be measured at 30 days.

Frailty Score

Time frame: This will be measured at 180 days.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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