Associations of referral and discharge services with trajectory of health in Ontario's complex continuing care facilities : a multilevel approach

Abstract

Over time, patients from acute care showed greater declines in symptoms, frailty, and resource utilization than other groups. Individuals discharged to LTCH were rated highest in queried symptoms (activities of daily living, cognitive impairment, aggression) and frailty, while those discharged to private homes were higher in resource intensity. Individuals discharged to acute care also experienced steeper declines in resource utilization on average than those discharged to acute care facilities. Future focused research into predictors of between hospital variability in outcomes and the surprising resource-intensity findings for those discharged to health care are suggested.