Care coordination in the Emergency Department: improving outcomes for older patients.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the care coordination (CC) program operating in the Emergency Department (ED) of The Northern Hospital in improving outcomes for older people and reducing ED admissions and re-presentations. This was achieved by comparing admissions from ED to wards pre and post commencement of the CC program, and measuring patient health-related quality of life pre and post CC intervention. Patient readmission rates and staff and patient satisfaction with the service were also investigated.