Transitions of Care for the Geriatric Patient in the Emergency Department

This article reviews and summarizes more than 200 studies regarding key issues surrounding the transition of elderly patients to or from the emergency department (ED), with particular attention paid to the relationship between the ED and nursing homes. Transfers of care often occur with incomplete information, which results in increased morbidity, recidivism, and cost. Transitions of elderly patients could be improved by standardizing hand-offs processes, improving discharge planning for elderly patients, developing metrics for transfers of care and geriatric care quality, and finding sustainable sources of research funding.