[Pre-hospital observation as an alternative to emergency hospitalisation].

Background: Pre-hospital observation beds in community care centres have for many years served as an alternative to hospitalisation in rural districts of Norway. The article presents the use of observation beds associated with the Fosen A&E centre.

Material And Method: A retrospective review of records of patients who had contacted Fosen A&E centre during the period 21 August 2006-21 August 2009 was undertaken. Patient characteristics and clinical pathways were registered, including admissions to hospital or to an observation bed, as well as re-admissions. Ever since observation beds were first introduced, clear inclusion and exclusion criteria have been applied with regard to the allocation of patients to observation beds.

Results: Altogether 8027 patients had been in direct contact with an A&E doctor, and 2342 were admitted, of whom 77% to hospital and 23% to an observation bed. Of the 530 patients admitted to an observation bed, 55% were 70 years or older. Of these, 68% were discharged to their homes within 36 hours, 17% were transferred to hospital, and the remainder received further treatment in a local rehabilitation unit or nursing home. The rate of readmission to observation beds or hospital amounted to 4% among those who had been discharged after no more than three days, and 18% among those discharged after 3-28 days.

Interpretation: A low number of readmissions may indicate that the use of observation beds is an alternative to hospitalisation.