Improving quality of life for aged care patients

1 December 2008

A research team from MonashUniversity together with Austin Health, Northern Health and the North East Valley Division of General Practice in Melbourne will develop a new model of care to improve the continuity of treatment for elderly patients as they transfer from hospital to an aged care facility.

Statistics show at least one in four patients transferred from hospital to an aged-care facility has medication doses missed or significantly delayed. These people are usually frail and have multiple chronic health problems.

Rohan Elliott, principal investigator from Monash University’s Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, said this was largely due to differences in systems of care, staff qualifications and medication funding and supply arrangements between acute and residential care settings.

“Delays in the administration of prescribed medicines can adversely impact on an older person’s quality of life and the effectiveness of their medical treatment and can even lead to hospital re-admission,” Mr Elliott said.

“This is particularly problematic when residents return to an aged care home for palliative care, when timely availability of painkillers is critical.”

Mr Elliott said the project would develop then test a model of care that bridged the gap and streamlines medication management processes.

“A key component will be a software module that generates discharge information and an interim medication administration chart to ensure that medications are able to be efficiently administered when an older person arrives at the aged care home,” Mr Elliott said.

“Strategies to streamline the supply of medications on discharge from hospital will also be explored.

“This will reduce the pressure on aged care home staff, general practitioners and community pharmacists in the period following resident arrival, and more importantly deliver a much better outcome for the patient.

“Involvement of three hospitals across two health networks will ensure that the new model is appropriate and transferable to other hospitals.”

For further information or to arrange interviews, contact Shaunnagh O’Loughlin, Media and Communications, on +61 3 9903 4843 or 0448 574 148.