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Efficacy of a dementia intensive support (DIS) service at preventing admissions to medical and psychiatric wards: qualitative and quantitative evaluation.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

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Authors

Rubinsztein, Judy S  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1466-3553
Hatfield, Catherine 
High, Liam 
Krishnan, Ramesh 
Arnaoutoglou, Nikitas A 

Abstract

AIMS AND METHOD: To establish whether a dementia intensive support (DIS) service that is part of a crisis resolution and home treatment team for older people is preventing admissions to acute hospital and psychiatric wards. The number of referrals in 2017 to the DIS service was established and those admitted to hospital ascertained. Senior doctors examined 30 sets of notes in detail and reached a conclusion on whether DIS had contributed to admission prevention. This information was then re-examined in two meetings with at least eight senior psychiatrists present. A consensus opinion was then reached as to whether DIS had contributed to admission prevention in each case. RESULTS: Over 12 months, 30/171 patients (18%) referred were admitted to hospital. For the subset of 30 referrals examined in detail, DIS contributed to admission avoidance in 21 cases (70%). CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Our evaluation demonstrates that the DIS service is an effective way of preventing admission.

Description

Keywords

Out-patient treatment, clinical governance, dementia, in-patient treatment, outcome studies

Journal Title

BJPsych Bull

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2056-4694
2056-4708

Volume Title

44

Publisher

Royal College of Psychiatrists