Frailty Screening & Management in Emergency Department
The Guidance Document is intended to support the implementation of proactive frailty screening and management in hospital Emergency Departments (EDs); a strategy to prevent repeat/prolonged hospitalizations and ALC rates. It outlines how an older adult’s (65 plus) ‘Frailty Status’ can be used as a criterion to inform decisions regarding care, flow, and transitions (i.e., from the ED to back in the community and/or acute care). The 4-step approach described in the document builds on recommendations made in the ALC Leading Practices and Ontario Health Operational Direction: Home First documents. This resource was developed through extensive consultations with colleagues across the Province, and includes key implementation considerations (with relevant metrics) to track changes.
An accompanying document titled ‘Customizable Templates for Frailty Screening and Management in the Emergency Department’ has been developed to help providers tailor the recommended practices in accordance with their preferences and service & program availability in their local area/region.
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