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Impact of a mobile delirium team in a general hospital
Van Hoeyweghen R, Simoens, K, Dendooven M, Lemey L, Vanopdenbosch L, Van Couter A
The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical effect of a mobile, multidisciplinary, two-tiered delirium team in a general hospital.
A reference nurse makes the first contact with the patient and consults the second tier consisting of a geriatrician, psychiatrist and neurologist. According to the profile of the patient one or more of these specialists is consulted. Apart from the clinical aspect, an important objective is teaching, bedside as well as in the formal curriculum of the hospital.
All cases where the team was involved were prospectively registrated regarding diagnosis (using the Confusion Assessment Method), etiology of the delirium and time interval between admission and intervention. Registration period 2004 was compared with the first semester 2005.
In 2004 86 patients older then 60 were registrated. In 36 cases (42%) abstinence or intoxication was involved in the delirium. Time interval was 6.1 ? 8.7 days and there was an average of 3.9 ? 2.6 contacts per patient. In 7 cases (8%) the intervention were preventive. In the first semester of 2005 71 patients older than 60 were registrated. In 28 cases (39%) abstinence or intoxication was involved in the delirium. Patients were enrolled 4.9 ? 4.5 days after admission and there were 3.1 ? 1.8 contacts per patient. In 11 cases (15%) it concerned a preventive intervention.
After 1 year the mobile, multidisciplinary delirium team had more interventions which occurred earlier and there was a shift towards more preventive measurements.
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