EarLy InTervention for the Elderly (ELITE): Elevating Elderly Care – Every Minute Matters in Acute Hospital
Care Continuum
Care Process & Redesign
Yishun Health One Improvement Festival
National Healthcare Group
2 April 2025
To assess the efficacy of a programme of proactive geriatric care interventions 'ELITE' in reducing hospital length of stay. Underscores the efficacy of the ELITE geriatric care strategy in a hospital setting.
Year Submitted: 2025
Published Date: 02 April 2025
Tags: Care Continuum, Quality Improvement, Workflow Redesign, Cost Saving, Time Saving, Care Process ＆ Redesign, Inpatient Care, Acute Care
About this Content
Aims
To assess the efficacy of a programme of proactive geriatric care interventions 'ELITE' in reducing hospital length of stay (LOS) and healthcare costs, while maintaining high standards of quality and safety metrics for older adults.
Background
Average length of stay of geriatric patients in Singapore is on the rise. This results in hospital bed capacity constraints with prolonged Emergency Department (ED) wait times. Longer stays also cause hospital acquired disability and increase healthcare utilisation and costs.
Methods
Interventions include early intervention upon patient arrival in ED, establishment of Geriatric Short Stay Unit (GSSU) to improve work efficiency, enhance communication, establish SMART goals and involve caregivers from admission, and adoption of a Collaborative Care Continuum Model.
Results
Patients in ELITE intervention arm had reduced length of stay. This translates to reduced healthcare costs per patient. No compromise on patient safety outcomes including mortality or readmission rates.
Conclusion
Underscores the efficacy of the ELITE geriatric care strategy in a hospital setting.
Lessons Learnt
Measures to reduce time to discharge for patients who do not require prolonged stays are important in reducing overall length of stay.
Additional Information
1. A total of 314 patients fulfilled the criteria for ELITE from Dec 2022 to Mar 2024. ELITE's early discharge planning and collaboration with community support services and KTPH@Home ensure patients transition smoothly after discharge. 2. The One Improvement Festival 2025 (Category B - Service Redesign & Delivery) – Top 15 Finalists
Keywords
Geriatric, Intervention, Hospital, Care, Efficiency, Safety, Cost
Innovators' Details
Innovators' Details
Healthcare Cluster(s) | National Healthcare Group |
Organization(s) Involved | Khoo Teck Puat Hospital |
Platform(s) | Yishun Health One Improvement Festival |
Healthcare Professional Group(s) | Medical |
Applicable Specialty or Discipline | Geriatric Medicine |
Project Lead(s) | Ng Chong Jin |
Project Member(s) | Cheong Chin Yee |
Connect with this contributor!
KTPH & YCH Innovation & Improvement (I&I) Office - i-i@ktph.com.sg