@article{Whate_Elliott_Carter_Stolee_2021, place={Markham, Canada}, title={Performance of the interRAI ED Screener for Risk-Screening in Older Adults Accessing Paramedic Services}, volume={24}, url={https://cgjonline.ca/index.php/cgj/article/view/451}, DOI={10.5770/cgj.24.451}, abstractNote={<p><strong>Background </strong></p> <p>Paramedics respond to a significant number of non-emergency calls generated by older adults each year. Paramedics routinely assess and screen older adults to determine risk level and need for additional follow-up. This project implemented the inter­RAI ED Screener into routine care to determine whether the screener and resulting Assessment Urgency Algorithm (AUA) score is useful in predicting adverse outcomes.</p> <p><strong>Methods </strong></p> <p>We conducted a population-based retrospective study using administrative health data for patients aged 65+ assessed by paramedics from July 2016 to February 2017. Patients were assigned an AUA score and classified into three risk categor­ies. Outcome data including hospitalizations, Emergency Department (ED) visits, home care status, and survival were collected and compared across AUA risk categories using descriptive and analytical statistics.</p> <p><strong>Results </strong></p> <p>Of the 2,801 patients screened, 31.9% were classified as high risk, 23.6% as moderate risk, and 44.6% as low risk. Patients who scored in the highest risk category were found to have longer hospital stays, and were more likely to require home care (<em>p</em><.0001). The AUA risk category also predicted survival (<em>p</em><.001).</p> <p><strong>Conclusions </strong></p> <p>The AUA predicted multiple adverse outcomes in this popula­tion. Use of the AUA by paramedics may aid in earlier identifi­cation of those in need of additional intervention and services.</p> <p> </p>}, number={1}, journal={Canadian Geriatrics Journal}, author={Whate, Alexandra and Elliott, Jacobi and Carter, Dustin and Stolee, Paul}, year={2021}, month={Feb.}, pages={8–13} }