Summary
Assessing frail patients in the emergency department
Duaso E, López-Soto A
Affiliation of the authors
Ámbito de Geriatría del Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa. Barcelona, Spain. Sección de Geriatría. Servicio de Medicina Interna. Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. Spain.
DOI
Quote
Duaso E, López-Soto A. Assessing frail patients in the emergency department. Emergencias. 2009;21:362-9
Summary
Frail, elderly patients appropriately use hospital emergency services with increasing
frequency. An effective evidence-based model for evaluating such patients in the
emergency department has not been developed. Nonetheless, when assessing the frail
elderly we are advised to establish clear objectives appropriate to their overall situation so
that a multidimensional diagnosis can be made and treatment priorities set. An evaluation
of functional status is useful for planning continuity of care to be provided by the primary
care team after these patients are discharged.