Fast-track Discharge With Telemedicine

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Evaluation of discharge after arrival at emergency unit, Kolding Hospital combined with treatment and rehabilitation in the home either by telemedicine or the usual treatment

Detailed Description
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Participants are acute in-patients at the Medical Department, Kolding Hospital. Participants shall be informed about the project, and all screened initially within 30 minutes. After 3-4 hours adjusted treatment and possible need for new investigations are conducted. Patients are randomized at discharge to home treatment with rounds via telemedicine with support of emergency team of nurses or hospitalization in emergency unit. Observations, treatment and rehabilitation follow the same standards and guidelines for all patients. The cohort of patients is recruited between Oct 1, 2015 until January 1, 2016. The study is a randomized quality evaluation study of patient satisfaction, of the emergency team at Kolding Municipality, re-admittance rate, use of other health services, and new services from the municipality.

Official Title
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Fast-track Discharge Combined With Treatment and Rehabilitation at Home With Telemedicine

Conditions
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Emergencies

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: Telemedicine


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: municipal home care at admittance admitted to medical emergency care unit at Kolding Hospital Exclusion Criteria: ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar diabetic coma, serious hypercalcemia, acute renal insufficiency with serum-creatinin > 175 mmol/l, serious cardiac failure septicemia acute coronary disease apoplexia cerebri neuroinfection progressive or active cancer hepatic disease serious psychiatric disease

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 75 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Telemedicine<br>Discharge with telemedicine contact to emergency nurse, doctor, and municipality | Device: Telemedicine<br>* Installation of videotelephone with broadband in patient's home<br>|
| No Intervention: Control<br>Standard care with 24-48 h observation at emergency unit | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Walking distance | Measurement of walking distance regularly by home care nurse (in meters) | 3 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Days of admittance | Days in hospital according t hospital charts | 3 months | 
| Fall in home | No. of falls in home recorded by home care nurse | 3 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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telemedicine, patient satisfaction, randomization