Care Transitions in the Psychiatric Hospital: Focus on Older Adults

A care transition is defined as the transfer of a patient between care settings, such as between a skilled nursing facility (SNF) to an emergency department (ED) or from the general medical ward to the inpatient psychiatric unit.1 The processes of care that occur during such transfers is defined as transitional care.2 These processes include reconciliation of medication orders, transmission of important medical information, and communication among patients, families, and care providers. Lack of continuity and coordination of medical services while providing transitional care negatively impacts quality of care, diminishes patient and family satisfaction, and increases morbidity and mortality.

Source: The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry - July 10, 2019 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Matthew Conlon, James Tew, LalithKumar K Solai, Priya Gopalan, Pierre Azzam, Jordan F. Karp Tags: Treatment in Geriatric Mental Health: Research in Action Source Type: research