Table 1 Comparison of demands in emergency care and care of older people
Demands | Older Person’s Unit | Accident and Emergency |
|---|---|---|
Clinical problems | Multiple chronic problems Sensory and cognitive deficits common Patient numbers and demographics relatively stable | Acute problems Patient numbers vary greatly Variable patient demographics |
Predictability | Some ability to predict demands due to stable patient numbers Patient acuity levels unpredictable both for individuals and wards | Ability to predict busy times of the day and week Low ability to predict specific demands at any one time, especially patient numbers and acuity |
Multi-disciplinary team (MDT) | Co-located MDT Dispersed community-based MDT | MDT dispersed |
Timescales | Co-ordination of care over time required | Co-ordination required over short timescales |