PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Neethu Billy Graham Mariam
AU  - Victoria Dunnett-Kane
AU  - M Trent Herdman
AU  - Tim Seers
AU  - Daniel Aldcroft
AU  - Sooria Balasegaram
AU  - Rebecca Davenport
AU  - Anthony Redmond
AU  - Cassandra Ng
AU  - Lauren Wentworth
TI  - Experience of using a regional network of hospitals in the care of older inpatients with COVID-19 in spring 2020
AID  - 10.7861/fhj.2021-0104
DP  - 2022 Mar 01
TA  - Future Healthcare Journal
PG  - 45--50
VI  - 9
IP  - 1
4099  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/9/1/45.short
4100  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/9/1/45.full
SO  - Future Healthc J2022 Mar 01; 9
AB  - Introduction Frail, older patients with COVID-19 have an increased risk of hospital admission and death.Methods We studied a regional model of care used for older patients with COVID-19 in spring 2020 across three settings: an acute teaching hospital, a district general hospital and a temporary emergency hospital. We also studied demographic and outcome data for these patients.Results Increasing bed capacity in non-acute sites freed up beds in acute hospitals. Strict admission criteria and multidisciplinary team involvement allowed for the safe delivery of care in step-down sites.Conclusion This model of care allowed for patient flow out of acute sites following the acute stage of their illness allowing for an increase in bed capacity while providing a safe setting for ongoing management.