Abstract
Purpose : The processes of unplanned readmissions among older patients were studied to gain information to be used for prevention of readmission. Method : Among all patients who were admitted to the internal medicine wards for circulatory or respiratory problems in an acute care hospital in a metropolitan area, 29 patients became study participants. These patients were 65 years or over, had an unplanned readmission within 6 months after a previous admission, and consented to participate in this study. In addition to a structured interview of the patient/family, information was gathered from medical records, physicians and nurses. Results : The reasons for readmission were classified as "unpreventable aggravation and adequate management after condition worsened", "perceived symptoms but no aggravation in underlying medical condition", "aggravation despite adequate care or management", and "unpreventable aggravation but inadequate management after the condition worsened". Conclusions : From these results, it can be considered important for prevention of readmission among elderly to provide adequate discharge guidance according to patients' condition, to coordinate a followup system with a community health care provider, and to encourage information exchange among health care providers.
