Articles Tagged With: delirium
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Ethical Guidance for Patients with Delirium at End of Life
It is important for clinicians to recognize clinical and ethical challenges when older adults develop delirium at the end of life.
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ICU Delirium Linked to Post-Discharge Change in Cancer Treatment and Higher Mortality Among Cancer Patients
In this single-center, retrospective cohort study, intensive care unit (ICU) delirium was associated with a higher rate of cancer treatment modification, only partly due to worsening performance status, after discharge and higher one-year mortality.
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Altered Mental Status: Geriatric Edition
The emergency department often is the first point of contact with healthcare professionals for older adults with altered mental status. As such, the emergency physician needs to approach these patients with confidence and expertise regarding diagnosing and managing underlying conditions that may be the etiology of a patient’s acute alteration in mental status.
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Standardized Care Protocols at SNFs Improve Hospital Readmission Rates
New research shows how standardized care protocols can improve care and reduce readmission rates for patients with chronic conditions in skilled nursing facilities.
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Consider the Burden for Those Caring for Older Trauma Patients
Family caregivers of older people who have experienced a serious fall or another traumatic event sometimes are unprepared for the role. The authors of a recent study found close to one-third of family caregivers of older trauma patients experience high caregiver burden up to three months after the patient’s discharge.
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Prioritize Bed Placement for Older Patients to Shorten Stays, Prevent Delirium
A team of emergency physicians gathered data showing that among older patients, there is an association between time spent in the ED and the development of delirium. Researchers found that for every hour spent in the ED, the risk of developing delirium increased by roughly 2%.
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Short-Term Use of Haloperidol Did Not Decrease Risk of Mortality in ICU Patients with Delirium
The use of scheduled intravenous haloperidol in intensive care unit patients with delirium did not result in additional days alive and out of the hospital at 90 days as compared to placebo.
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The Unique Legal Risks of Treating Geriatric Patients
When compared to younger persons, older adults are more likely to experience missed or incorrect diagnoses and inadequate pain management. Older adults who are discharged from the ED are more likely to be readmitted. They also risk functional loss and higher rates of mortality. Whenever possible, and with the permission of the older adult, the ED nurse should include the patient’s significant other, family, or support person in the assessment process.
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Time Spent in ED Hallways Raises Risk of Developing Delirium
Researchers analyzed 25,162 patients, including 1,920 who met delirium criteria. Patients with delirium spent a greater percentage of time in the ED hallway than other patients and stayed in the ED longer. Patients developed delirium in the ED more often than patients on the inpatient units. Out of the 1,920 patients who developed delirium, 1,488 did so while in the ED.
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Gaps in Care Occur Between ICU and Acute Care Unit
Patients who received ICU care experience problems that need to be resolved before they are discharged. These can include delirium, debility, and dysphagia, researchers say.