Activities and accomplishments of the delirium care team in the acute care hospital

Abstract

Functioning as a regional acute care hospital, our emergency medical center widely accepts patients in primary ~ tertiary emergencies. A preliminary study revealed that 18.5% of all inpatients experience delirium which is similar to the percent reported by other institutes. The study also states that half of falling accidents among the incident cases occurs during periods of delirium. Because delirium greatly complicates medical management, detection and intervention to prevent delirium in its early stage is important. In 2009, we and other medical professionals formed a delirium care team (DCT), whose main goal is the prevention of occurrence and worsening of delirium by early intervention. Our DCT consists of psychiatrists, nurses, pharmacists and physical therapists. DCT members make the rounds of all wards every day, consulting with inpatients with delirium or a high risk of delirium. The DCT arranges medication, reinforces cognitive orientation, estimates pain and educates inpatients and their relatives about delirium. DCT members hold a conference about inpatients with delirium every month. Once a year, an educational conference about delirium is held for the hospital staff. Because many wards rely on DCT activities for a rapid response to delirium, team intervention to prevent delirium can decrease psychological distress of the hospital staff caring for inpatients with delirium. The number of interventions by the DCT has been increasing reaching 413 inpatients in 2011. Based on our recent experience, the DCT has been most successful in preventing the worsening of delirium rather than preventing delirium itself. Because our hospital is obligated to treat emergencies, making the rounds of the wards by the DCT consisting of various medical professions has made a significant contribution to the treatment of delirium.