Success with an inpatient geriatric unit: a controlled study of outcome and follow-up.

To assess the worth of a newly established geriatric unit, outcomes for 50 subject patients cared for on this unit were compared with outcomes for 50 control patients. Both groups of patients were hospitalized in Highland View Hospital, the chronic illness and rehabilitation section of a major teaching hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. Analysis of admission data showed the two groups to be closely comparable. All patients were managed by multidisciplinary teams, and the length of stay of both groups was comparable. The discharge data showed that the subject patients were more independent, with significantly greater numbers improving in ambulation and significantly more subject patients being discharged to a home setting. Although the patients in the control group were discharged at lower levels of function, they showed improvement at follow-up. Follow-up data also showed that both groups largely remained in their discharge environments. Explanations for these findings are discussed. The results of this study support the establishment of geriatric inpatient units.