Health service utilisation and health outcomes of residential aged care residents referred to a hospital avoidance program: a multi-site retrospective quasi-experimental study

Objective: To compare the health system utilisation patterns and health outcomes of residential aged care facility (RACF) residents reviewed by a hospital avoidance program to those of RACF residents who received usual care. Methods: A retrospective evaluation of a hospital avoidance program provided by a hospital-based medical and nursing outreach team. Residents reviewed by the program were randomly matched 1:1 to comparison group residents based on age group, sex and number of co-morbidities. Number of hospital admissions, excess hospital length of stay and excess hospital treatment costs were compared. Results: Residents reviewed by the program spent an average 9-10 days fewer in hospital with AUD$2,091 to $8,014 lower hospital treatment costs compared to comparison group residents. Conclusion: Rapid provision of outreach services for the management of acute care of RACF residents may reduce the number of days residents spend in hospital, as well as reducing the associated hospital treatment costs.