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This website is of particular interest to hospital administrators, physicians and caregivers. We have proven that we can assist providers improve
the quality of life for aging adults as well as extend that quality of life. We cannot, however, increase one's longevity....
Geriatricians and multidisciplinary teams may lead to a better quality of life but do not increase survival
rates. Discharged "frail elderly" patients treated by the multidisciplinary team showed a higher level of physical ability and basic living capability than their counterparts. Even after one year,
the differences still existed...however, 21 percent of both groups had died. Cohen et al, NEJM, 3/21/02
We are able to increase the profitability of services to the aging population by emphasizing aging excellence, not only for the elderly, but also for the aging
Baby Boomers over the age of 50 whose parents are now probably in their 70s and early 80s. We can facilitate the development of multidisciplinary teams that can reduce use of ED services and over utilization
of general medicine beds. Such over-utilization leads to reduced availability of the more profitable surgical beds.
Fifty-five percent of patients age 80 and over are first treated in the ED before being admitted to a
hospital. Leading causes are pneumonia, heart conditions and stroke. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Among patients with multiple diseases, adverse drug event frequency is directly proportional to the number of drugs
administered. Many of the fatal ADEs occurred within three days of the visit to the emergency room. (Ebbesen et al) Archives of Internal Medicine,
10/24/01. Approximately, nine out of ten elderly persons who are released from a
hospital and admitted to a step-down facility for rehab or other type of subacute care are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. During their stay, 25 percent are readmitted to an acute care hospital. St. Louis Health Sciences Center, Missouri, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2002. Twenty percent of approximately 32 million Americans over the age of 65 in 1996 living outside of nursing homes used at least one or more of
eleven medications that a panel of geriatric medicine and pharmacy experts advise should always be avoided by the elderly. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, JAMA, 12/11/01.
We can assist administrators and physicians reduce the number of malpractice lawsuits and ameliorate those that occur.
Nearly one-third of patients with a urinary catheter device following surgery do not need the device. University of Michigan research, American Journal of Medicine, 12/31/02.
Individuals 65+ account for 40 percent of visits to internists even though they are only 12.5 percent of the population.
For an example of how one hospital has approached this subject, go to Case Studies and read "A (Not So) Elder-Care Experiment," credited to Stephen Jones, Director of the Center for Healthy Aging at Greenwich (CT), that was published in Modern
Heatlhcare, November 3, 2003. (Greenwich Hospital has been a client since 1991; the subject article was drafted and placed by Fry Consultants staff.)
Please review the material on this website for additional information and then contact us to discuss how we might be of assistance.
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