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Stroke, Hip Break Lead to Nursing Home
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
UPI.com
Being hospitalized
for an acute event, such as a stroke or hip fracture, can lead to long-term
institutionalization in a nursing home, U.S. researchers found.
Lead author Dr.
James S. Goodwin, director of the Sealy Center on Aging at the University of
Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, found direct discharge to a skilled nursing
facility —a common practice designed to reduce hospital stays—put patients at
"extremely high risk" of needing long-term nursing home care.
Goodwin said the
findings suggest programs aimed at helping older patients recuperate at home
instead of in an institutional setting could greatly improve their health
outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
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