Digitised Patient Care Pathways

Project: Delirium & Dementia assessment

 

• First of its kind in NHS England
• Increased screening for over 65-year-olds, with the number of identified cases per year having risen by 34% and the length of stay for these patients has reduced by 11%,
• Saving an estimated £1.7m in the first year.
• Readmissions for delirium patients has also reduced from 15% to 13% satin an estimated £101,000 for the same period.
• Figures from between September and December 2017, show reduction in average length of hospital stay for patients with delirium.
• Shortlisted for HSJ Patient Safety Award 2018

Our new electronic assessment tool for delirium is helping patients and their families by accurately diagnosing more patients with delirium.

This is the first of its kind in NHS England. It is a gold standard assessment tool to increase screening and clinical decision support for delirium in the over 65's and to improve identification and treatment. It also triggers the right patient treatment and management packages and guides referral on to other services.

For patients this means:

• Faster diagnosis and quicker treatment
• Less distress
• Earlier discharge from hospital and less chance of readmission
• Receiving the most appropriate care, in the right place
• No unnecessary or inappropriate tests or medication
• Reduced risk of falls and harm whilst in hospital
• Reduced risk of developing dementia and deterioration of dementia
• Increased detection of undiagnosed dementia.

 

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