Frailty‐associated outcomes in geriatric emergency medicine ward patients: A retrospective cohort study informing program development

Background Frail elderly patients require more interventions, and longer hospitalizations due to their complex health needs. The Emergency Medicine Ward (EMW) aims to provide acute care for patients with low‐acuity medical issues, often using a multidisciplinary approach for holistic care and discharge. This study provides data on the characteristics, interventions, outcomes for patients in a Geriatric Emergency Department (ED) program. Methods This is a single‐centre retrospective cohort study conducted in the EMW at North Lantau Hospital from 10 March to 9 May 2025. Community‐dwelling patients aged 65 years and older were recruited. A Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) of 4 or higher was used to identify frail patients. The nursing and allied health interventions received were documented by relevant staff, and other clinical data were retrieved from case notes. Descriptive statistics were used for the analysis. Results A total of 239 patients were recruited. Elderly patients with a CFS of 4 or higher required more interventions in the areas of medical care, nursing, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy compared to those with a CFS less than 4. They also had higher rates of prolonged hospitalization (≥7 days) (OR 4.22; 95% CI 2.02–8.79; p < 0.001), 30‐day ED reattendance (OR 2.52; 95% CI 1.20–5.30; p = 0.016), and 30‐day unplanned hospital readmissions (OR 3.46; 95% CI 1.53–7.77; p = 0.002). Conclusion Frail community‐dwelling elderly admitted to the EMW required significantly more medical, nursing, and allied health interventions, underscoring the urgent need for a structured geriatric emergency medicine program to address their complex needs, to reduce the length of stay, and prevent ED reattendance and unplanned readmissions.