Senior citizens require more care after hospitalization

Skanderborg Municipality found that elderly citizens were getting worse after hospitalization than before. Among other things, citizens required more care from home care services after hospitalization - and this often ended in re-admission.

The increased need for care is first and foremost a burden on the individual senior citizen. But it also challenges the municipality, which - like many other municipalities - is struggling with labor shortages, a limited economy and/or an ever-increasing demand for welfare services and offers.

Skanderborg Municipality is part of the TVÆRSPOR project and we were able to help them access and analyze data in relation to the following two questions:

1. Are senior citizens being discharged from hospital faster than before? - and does this lead to more readmissions? 

1. Has the need for municipal care and treatment among senior citizens increased after hospitalization?

Together with Skanderborg Komme, we defined and designed an analysis, established a project group and applied to TVÆRSPOR for the necessary data.

Our competent consultants then took care of the following:

• Data extraction and processing

• Analysis of data

• Reporting and reporting

The analysis contributed a number of relevant insights. These include the following:

• The number of bed days in hospital is decreasing over time. This means that older patients are spending less time in hospital. In other words, they are being discharged faster than they used to be.

• The number of readmissions is increasing - in terms of numbers. However, in percentage terms, the level of readmissions is stable despite an increase in the number of senior citizens.

• More senior citizens need extra help (care and support) after hospitalization.

• Measured on biochemistry and vital signs (e.g. sodium), based on the last sample before discharge, it indicates that senior citizens are not fully treated or stable at the time of discharge.

With this knowledge, the municipality can now take concrete steps to meet the increased need for care and follow-up with senior citizens after they are discharged from the hospital. At the same time, they can take this knowledge to the hospital, region and health cluster to find a common solution - across sectors.

”We have worked with Enversion on a TVÆRSPOR analysis. It has been rewarding and generally characterized by great commitment and professionalism."

Maja Lanther, AC-Health Consultant and Health Promotion, Health, Care and Disability Secretariat, Skanderborg Municipality

Do you have any questions about the analysis, Tværspor or how we can make similar analyses for your citizens or patients? Your citizens or patients?

Contact us by emailing Sandra Hoffmann at smh@enversion.dk or +45 24 42 95 59