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Intra‐Hospital Transfer: Effects on Chronically Ill Psychogeriatric Patients
Author(s) -
Raasoch John,
Willmuth Ragon,
Thomson Laurence,
Hyde Robert
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1977.tb00417.x
Subject(s) - medicine , pessimism , homogeneous , unit (ring theory) , geriatric psychiatry , psychiatry , psychology , philosophy , physics , mathematics education , epistemology , thermodynamics
Since the Vermont State Hospital was approaching a major transition period, it was decided to study systematically the effects of intra‐unit and inter‐unit transfer on its psychogeriatric patients. Ten patients were assessed by means of four standardized measures in the intra‐unit study, specifically investigating the effects of integrating wards previously devoted either to chronic or to acute psychiatric illness. Twenty‐five patients from a specialized geriatric unit were evaluated, by separate investigators, with respect to changes occurring as a result of their transfer to regional mixed units. The critical incident log, the problem classification form, and the clinical global impression showed some changes, for which there were several possible explanations. None of the changes was as dramatic as predicted by staff members holding divergent views prior to the study. The optimists predicted a “blossoming” of the psychogeriatric patients in the mixed, regional units, whereas the pessimists prophesied dire consequences. The group of patients studied was not completely homogeneous with respect to the effect of transfer. Clinical assessment after transfer could be relied on to detect improvement in some of these psychogeriatric patients and deterioration in others. Some understanding of the complexity of the multifactor determinants of change developed along with increased cooperation among the investigators and the nursing staff. A middle ground of mutual respect for fresh ideas and an appreciation for years of experience was reached.