New Research Reaches Out to Elderly Patients with Multiple Chronic Conditions
Research Project Aims to Reduce Unnecessary Readmissions for Elderly Patients with Multiple Chronic Conditions.
This article has been featured in Dagbladet Køge, Dagbladet Ringsted, Dagbladet Roskilde, and on sn.dk under the Køge section.
Read the article here or in Danish at sn.dk via this link.
The population is ageing, and with age often comes increased illness and vulnerability. Many elderly people have multiple chronic conditions, leading to frequent use of healthcare services. Hospitalisation can be taxing and is not always the best solution for elderly patients, especially if treatment could have been delivered at home or through community care.
A new research project aims to shed light on these issues and explore new opportunities. Preliminary work has begun at the Medical Department of Zealand University Hospital in Køge and Nykøbing Falster, as part of the Bridging Safe Elderly Care research project. The project seeks to identify risk factors that indicate when elderly patients with multiple chronic conditions are at high risk of readmission. This is stated by Region Zealand in a press release.
This requires thorough preparation, which Nanna Winther Selmer, nurse, cand.cur. and PhD student, is currently doing at the Medical Department at Zealand University Hospital Køge and Nykøbing F. Here, Nanna reviews medical records and interviews patients in connection with her PhD project, the press release states.
With the Help of Artificial Intelligence
Results from the project, combined with findings from the Swedish side, will contribute to developing a predictive model to identify elderly patients at high risk of readmission within 30 days.
In the press release, Nanna Winter Selmer said:
“Identifying these patients will allow us to implement interventions to prevent readmissions. Additionally, we can gain a broader understanding of predictors that help anticipate the risk of readmission for this patient group,” said Nanna Winther Selmer.
The predictive model is being developed with artificial intelligence in collaboration with IT company IQVIA. A better, safer treatment process with fewer unnecessary readmissions will benefit patients, their families, and the entire healthcare system, emphasises Region Zealand.
The three-year Danish-Swedish research project is funded by €1.5 million from the EU’s Interreg programme.