Interventions to improve recognition of delirium: a sine qua non for successful transitional care programs.

摘要

It is encouraging to see the effectiveness of the Care Transitions Intervention and a transitional care program reproduced in real-world settings, 2 different interventions devised to improve transition of care from acute care settings to lower levels of care. It is however important to highlight a frequently underrecog-nized condition, namely delirium, that is highly prevalent in hospitalized older patients and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Any intervention that aims to improve transition of care from an acute care setting to a lower level of care should include strategies to assess for delirium during hospitalization and at the time of discharge and to provide education to caregivers and patients on delirium.