Usefulness of Subacute Care for Older Patients Discharged from Acute Care Hospitals: a Prospective Observational Study in Crema

Three hundred and eighteen elderly patients admitted to our acute care hospital, were then transferred to a subacute care unit (SCU) and then followed for 6 months after having been discharged. We measured laboratory and functional parameters at admission and discharge from the SCU and we found that both of them were significantly better at discharge, with the exception of haemoglobin level. Distinctive patterns at discharge could be identified in the patients who needed hospital readmissions in the following 6 months: female gender, younger age, lower haemoglobin, higher creatinine and poorer functional status. We conclude that subacute care is useful for the frail patient, can help in readmission avoidance and might prove to be very cost-effective, provided that certain requirements are met.