Potentially avoidable emergency department transfers from residential aged care facilities for possible post-fall intracranial injury.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To determine the percentage of potentially preventable residential aged care facility (RACF) to ED transfers for potential intracranial injury post-fall. To describe rates of CT brain (CTB) performance, intracranial trauma-related findings, neurosurgical intervention, and patient outcome.

Methods

Patient lists were obtained from the hospital electronic medical record, screened for eligibility and data abstracted. Potentially preventable was defined as: (1) RACF return from ED within 24 h, regardless of CTB performance or finding; (2) ED management could reasonably have been provided at the RACF. Comparisons between those with CTB performed or not, including external signs of craniofacial trauma, anticoagulant medication use, baseline cognitive impairment and prese

SUBMITTER: Tulchinsky I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10087771 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature