Referrals and consultations for the adult-geriatric patient
Discuss appropriate referrals and consultations for the adult-geriatric patient experiencing acute or chronic immobility. Differentiate the requirements for acute rehabilitation, skilled care (transitional care), long-term care, and hospice patients who are preparing for discharge from the acute care setting and may require bridge therapy to increase strength, balance, and conditioning prior to transitioning to a safe independent living environment. Discuss general admission criteria, including number of modalities of therapy, number of hours of therapy per day in which the patient must participate, and any restrictions such as renal dialysis. Identify at least one restorative level of care that an acute care adult-geriatric patient can be transferred to as a bridge to independent living and briefly describe the criteria for admission (e.g., number of hours of therapy and number of different modalities of therapy–speech, PT, OT, skilled nursing) within skilled or transitional care, home health, acute rehabilitation, long-term acute care, hospice, or other.
Part 2
Discuss important risk factors, etiology, presentation, assessment, diagnosis, and evidence-based therapy for common acute immobility and wound management conditions and disorders for complex acute, critical, and chronically ill adult gerontology patients. Explain the presentation, etiology, risk factors, common differential diagnosis, typical diagnostic work-up, treatment plan (based on current clinical guidelines and evidence-based therapy).
Sample Solution
Referrals and consultations for the adult-geriatric patient
Older patients are at risk for loss of self-care abilities during the course of an acute medical illness that results in hospitalization. The Acute Care for Elders (ACE) Unit is a continuous quality improvement model of care designed to prevent the patient`s loss of independence from admission to discharge in the performance of activities of daily living (hospital-associated disability). The ACE unit intervention includes principles of a prepared environment that encourages safe patient self-care, a set of clinical guidelines for bedside care by nurses and other health professionals to prevent patient disability and restore self-care lost by the acute illness, and planning for transitions of care and medical care.
