Discharge of patients to long-term care from a large acute hospital over a 12-year period.

Abstract

Abstract Background Several factors may be important in determining the discharge of patients to long-term care from the acute hospital. Aims We aimed to look at factors associated with discharge to long-term care from St. James’s Hospital, Dublin between 1997 and 2008. Methods Data obtained from a long-term care database within the geriatric service were analysed. This service is responsible for assessing and listing all patients for long-term care within the hospital. Results 3,107 patients were listed and 2,520 discharged to long-term care during the period. Mean age was 81.7 ± 7.3 years and 64.1 % were female. The number listed increased since 1997, but there was no change in age or gender. Median time to discharge was 52 days, but varied by year and was longer for public versus private facilities (mean difference = 18 days, P = 0.006). Mortality of those awaiting long-term care was 17.0 %, but varied significantly by year and ranged form 9.3–29.0 %. Mortality was higher in males, in those of older age and during the winter months. Conclusions Variation in the time to discharge appears to be associated with changes in the provision of publicly funded private nursing home beds.