geriatric medicine.

Predicting length of stay for acute medical admissions using the ALICE score: a simple bedside tool

Research Audit and Clinical Practice, Volume 16, Issue 2, Pages 49 – 100 (2017)

Background: Early identification of patients likely to have a short admission permits best use of limited resources to facilitate rapid discharge where possible. The ALICE score is a simple bedside tool developed in one hospital as a decision aid. This study sought to confirm its widespread applicability.

Method: Retrospective review of 250 consecutive admissions at five acute hospitals. Clinical records were reviewed for a total of 1003 patients. ALICE score was calculated for each patient and compared to LoS data.

Results: There was a statistically significant positive correlation between rising ALICE scores and increasing length of stay irrespective of final diagnoses.

Conclusion: The ALICE score provides a simple bedside tool to predict length of stay.

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The admission of older patients to a dedicated short stay medical unit: learning from experience

Original Articles, Volume 6, Issue 3, Pages 93 - 136 (2007)

Abstract

The admission of older patients with acute medical problems to short stay medical units (SSMUs) is controversial in light of their longer expected length of in-patient stay (LoS), coupled with the greater resources required by such a department.

We undertook a prospective study of 120 consecutive SSMU patients aged 60 years or over, to find out whether information gained during the admissions process could predict which candidates would subsequently have a successful SSMU outcome, as well as to assess the overall suitability of the SSMU to older patients.

Our redesigned acute medicine services at Addenbrooker’s Hospital (Cambridge, UK) have taken account of our results, and we continue to admit older patients to our new Medical Short Stay Emergency Unit.

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