Is delirium being detected in emergency?

Authors

Victoria Traynor, University of WollongongFollow
Nicholas Cordato, University of New South Wales
Pippa Burns, University of WollongongFollow
Yun Xu, University of New South Wales
Nicole Britten, University of WollongongFollow
Kim Duncan, St Vincent's Health Network
Loren deVries, The Garrawarra Centre
Colleen Mckinnon, South East Sydney Local Health District

RIS ID

101135

Publication Details

Traynor, V., Cordato, N., Burns, P., Xu, Y., Britten, N., Duncan, K., deVries, L. & Mckinnon, C. (2016). Is delirium being detected in emergency?. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 35 (1), 54-57.

Abstract

Objective To report on the use of Delirium Care Pathways to screen for and recognise delirium by Aged Care Services in Emergency Teams (ASETs) at five metropolitan hospitals in New South Wales, Australia. Knowledge of delirium and the use of Delirium Care Pathways are vital to ensure that older people presenting with delirium receive best practice care. Methods An audit of 205 randomly selected medical records of clients over 65 years presenting to an ASET was conducted. Results Delirium was recorded in the medical records notes of four clients (2%). However, the auditors identified another 27 clients with symptoms of delirium. Conclusions Delirium is still frequently undiagnosed and misdiagnosed in older people presenting to emergency departments. This indicates a need for further education and professional development for and by health-care practitioners. Only with greater awareness of delirium will the care and health outcomes of older adults presenting with delirium in acute care settings improve.