Title
Measuring functional status in hospitalized older adults through electronic health record documentation
Publication Date
2018
Journal Title
South Med J
Abstract
© Copyright 2018 The Southern Medical Association. Objectives: Hospitalization-associated disability affects up to 60% of older adults; however, standardized measures of function are not routinely used and documented. We sought to determine whether nursing documentation in electronic medical records can be used to determine mobility status and associated clinical outcomes. Methods: A retrospective study of 2383 medical patients aged 75 years and older was conducted at a large academic tertiary hospital in New York. Mobility (low, intermediate, and high) was the primary variable of interest. Short-term clinical outcomes, including length of stay (LOS), discharge disposition, and readmissions, were the primary outcome variables. Results: Average age and Charlson Comorbidity Index were 84.7 (range 74-107) and 6.46, respectively; 84.5% of patients were documented to have been ambulatory before admission. More than half (52.8%) of the subjects with in-hospital mortality were in the low mobility group (27.2 vs 0.27 vs 0, P < 0.0001). Low mobility was associated with increased LOS (7.42 vs 5.69 vs 4.14, P < 0.0001), discharge to a skilled nursing facility (39.36 vs 14.67 vs 1.91, P < 0.0001), and 30-day readmission (24.40 vs 16.67 vs 10.93, P < 0.0001). After controlling for demographics, ambulatory status before admission, and Charlson Comorbidity Index, low mobility was statistically significantly associated with increased LOS, discharge to a skilled nursing facility, and 30-day readmissions. Conclusions: The use of documented nursing observation may provide a practical way to systematically identify patients at risk for poor outcomes associated with low mobility to ultimately improve outcomes of hospitalized older adults.
Volume Number
111
Issue Number
4
Pages
220 - 225
Document Type
Article
Status
Faculty; Northwell Researcher
Facility
School of Medicine; Northwell Health
Primary Department
General Internal Medicine
Additional Departments
Hospital Medicine; Molecular Medicine; Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention
PMID
DOI
10.14423/SMJ.0000000000000788