Outcomes for patients with delirium receiving hospital‐in‐the‐home treatment: An Australian perspective

Objective To evaluate the safety (mortality and readmissions) and efficiency (length of stay) of the hospital‐in‐the‐home delirium pathway (THDP) compared with hospital‐based care. Methods Patients admitted to THDP were compared against an age‐matched cohort of patients with delirium managed entirely in hospital. Outcome data were obtained through retrospective chart review, and hospital coding was used to identify controls. Results Ninety‐six patients were included in this study, of which 46 were managed on THDP. There was a significant frailty and co‐morbidity burden with no differences in the demographic profile between groups. Inpatient length of stay was shorter on THDP (THDP mean 8 days, control 11 days; P = .02). One‐month mortality was 13% in THDP compared with 24% in the control group (P = .2). One‐month readmission was 30% in THDP and 18% in the control group (P = .23). Conclusion The hospital‐in‐the‐home delirium pathway is a promising alternative to in‐hospital delirium care for selected patients.