OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effect of emergency department (ED) interventions on clinical, utilization, and care experience outcomes for older adults. DESIGN A conceptual model informed, protocol‐based systematic review. SETTING Emergency Department (ED). PARTICIPANTS Older adults 65 years of age and older. METHODS AND MEASUREMENT Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycINFO were searched for English‐language studies published through December 2017. Studies evaluating the use of one or more eligible intervention strategies (discharge planning, case management, medication safety or management, and geriatric EDs including those that cited the 2014 Geriatric ED Guidelines) with adults 65 years of age and older were included. Studies were classified by the number of intervention strategies used (ie, single strategy or multi‐strategy) and key intervention components present (ie, assessment, referral plus follow‐up, and contact both before and after ED discharge [“bridge”]). The effect of ED interventions on clinical (functional status, quality of life [QOL]), patient experience, and utilization (hospitalization, ED return visit) outcomes was evaluated. RESULTS A total of 2000 citations were identified; 17 articles describing 15 unique studies (9 randomized and 6 nonrandomized) met eligibility criteria and were included in analyses. ED interventions showed a mixed pattern of effects. Overall, there was a small positive effect of ED interventions on functional status but no effects on QOL, patient experience, hospitalization at or after the initial ED index visit, or ED return visit. CONCLUSION Studies using two or more intervention strategies may be associated with the greatest effects on clinical and utilization outcomes. More comprehensive interventions, defined as those with all three key intervention components present, may be associated with some positive outcomes.

An important contributor to hospital-associated disability is immobility during hospitalization. Preliminary results from STRIDE, a clinical demonstration program of supervised walking for older adults admitted to the hospital with medical illness, are reported. The STRIDE program consisted of a targeted gait and balance assessment by a physical therapist, followed by daily walks supervised by a recreation therapy assistant for the duration of the hospital stay. To examine program effectiveness, STRIDE participants (n = 92) were compared with individuals referred but not enrolled (because of refusal or because program was at capacity, n = 35). Median length of stay was 4.7 days for STRIDE participants and 5.7 days for individuals receiving usual care (P = .31). There was one inpatient fall in each group (not associated with a STRIDE walk). Overall, 92% of STRIDE participants were discharged to home (rather than a skilled nursing facility (SNF)) compared to 74% of individuals receiving usual care (P = .007). Thirty-day emergency department visit rates and readmission rates were not significantly different between the two groups. STRIDE, a supervised walking program for hospitalized older adults, was feasible and safe, and program participants were less likely to be discharged to a SNF than a demographically similar comparison group. STRIDE is a promising interdisciplinary approach to promoting mobility and improving outcomes in hospitalized older adults.

Object-The goal of this study was to determine whether frail older adults, based on a deficit accumulation index (DAI), are at increased risk of adverse outcomes following discharge from the emergency department (ED). Design-Secondary analysis of data from the Medicare Current Beneficiary SurveyParticipants-1851 community-dwelling, Medicare fee-for-service enrollees, ≥ 65 years old who were discharged from the ED between January 2000 and September 2002.Measurements-Primary dependent variable was time to first adverse outcome, defined as repeat outpatient ED visit, hospital admission, nursing home admission or death within 30 days of the index ED visit.Results-Time to first adverse outcome was shortest among individuals with the highest number of accumulated deficits. The most frail participants were at greater risk of adverse outcomes following ED discharge compared to those who were least frail (HR 1.44, CI 1.06, 1.96). The most frail individuals were also at higher risk of serious adverse outcomes defined as hospitalization, nursing home admission or death (HR 1.98, CI 1.29, 3.05). In contrast, no association was detected between degree of frailty and repeat outpatient ED visits within 30 days (HR 1.06, CI 0.73, 1.54). Conclusion-The DAI as a construct of frailty was a robust predictor of serious adverse outcomes in the first 30 days after ED discharge. Frailty was not found to be a major determinant of repeat outpatient ED visits; therefore, additional study is needed to investigate this particular type of health service use among older adults.