Cost Analysis of Emergency Department Visits by Geriatric Patients Living in Nursing Homes

OBJECTIVE: To determine the cost analysis of emergency department (ED) visits by geriatric patients living in nursing homes. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODOLOGY: Medical records of geriatric patients living in nursing homes who were admitted to the emergency department of the Hospital, between 2011 and 2015, were retrospectively reviewed. Number of visits, reason, and cost of treatment was determined. RESULTS: In total 63 patients (21 females [33.3%], 42 males [66.6%]) with mean age of 76.3 ± 8.16 years were included. The total number of emergency department visits by those 63 patients was 243. Twenty-three (9.5%) of the total emergency department visits were due to trauma. Six patients (9.5%) were admitted to the emergency department with cardiopulmonary arrest. The mean cost of each patient was $358.30 (53.90 - 1734.10), the maximum cost was $10,095.10, and the minimum cost was $7.42. CONCLUSION: Emergency department visits and hospitalisation are common among elderly patients living in nursing homes. However, emergency department visits by this frail population put a heavy burden on the economy. Essential measures should be taken to reduce the financial burden of emergency department visits and hospitalisation of this geriatric population.