Health Policy Manag.  2022 Jun;32(2):173-179. 10.4332/KJHPA.2022.32.2.173.

The Tendency of Elderly Patients Who Transferred from Long-term Care Hospital to Emergency Room, 2014–2019

• Ko Sk
• Kim S
• Lee TY
• Lee JH

• KMID: 2534956
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4332/KJHPA.2022.32.2.173

Abstract

Background
This study aimed to identify patterns of elderly patients who transferred from long-term care hospitals to emergency rooms and provide the evidence of emergency medical systems to prepare for a super-aged society.
Methods
The data source was the National Emergency Department Information System database from January 2014 to December 2019 in Korea. We performed a cross-sectional study among elderly patients (≥65 years) who transferred from a long-term care hospital to an emergency room. Trend analysis was conducted by year.
Results
We identified 225,765 elderly patients who were transferred from long-term care hospitals to emergency rooms between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2019. The proportion of the study population and their mean age were recently increased (p<0.001, respectively). The proportion of elderly patients being re-transferred (p=0.049) and the patients re-transferred to long-term care hospitals is significantly increased (p=0.005).
Conclusion
The establishment of efficient emergency medical services for an aging society is important. It is necessary to develop a healthcare network with the government, long-term care hospitals, and medical institutions in the community suitable for preventing disease deterioration.

Keyword

Long-term care hospital; Elderly patients; Transfer-in; Emergency room; NEDIS data; Trend analysis