Non-Medical Needs

Non-Medical Needs

Project Description

People come to the medical system with a wide range of needs; some medical, and some non-medical. As it becomes more difficult to get a primary-care physician, and challenging to see a physician even if you have one, more patients end up in the Emergency Department. There, they present with various needs, including non-medical needs that can complicate their medical needs, but are frequently ignored, unexamined, or considered outside the scope of medical care. This can be especially impactful on older patients.

Nonmedical problems are often overlooked by emergency clinicians. In addition to their physical problems, older adults often have multiple competing functional, social, economic, and behavioral issues that have an impact on their health and wellbeing. For instance, socioeconomic situations such as social isolation and poor access to transportation can negatively influence the patient’s compliance to the treatment of their medical and mental-health related conditions. Subtle manifestations of elder abuse and neglect are also rarely identified in the emergency department. We are increasingly aware of the importance of addressing nonmedical needs to achieve better outcomes.

We designed this study to collect information about patients’ non-medical needs to better understand the scope of these needs. This information is crucial as we design systems that make it possible for our health care teams to tackle issues like food insecurity, transportation, and caregiver support.

Main objective: To determine the prevalence and predictors of nonmedical problems among older adults attending the ED for low acuity conditions.

Secondary objectives: To compare the profile of patients with reported nonmedical problems in the ED compared to patients without reported nonmedical problems and to explore the interhospital variations with regards to the prevalence of nonmedical problems.

Project Director: Eric Mercier

Project full title: Nonmedical needs among older adults attending the emergency department for low acuity conditions: a prospective cohort study

Dans un esprit d’amitié et de solidarité, l’Université Laval rend hommage aux Premiers Peuples de ces lieux. Étant à la croisée du Nionwentsïo du peuple Huron-Wendat, du Ndakina du peuple Wabanaki, du Nitassinan du peuple Innu, du Nitaskinan du peuple Atikamekw et du Wolastokuk du peuple Wolastoqey, nous honorons nos relations les uns avec les autres.

In the spirit of friendship and solidarity, Université Laval recognizes the First Peoples of this land. Here, at the meeting place of the Nionwentsïo territory of the Huron-Wendat people, the Ndakina territory of the Wabanaki people, the Nitassinan territory of the Innu people and the Wolastokuk territory of the Wolastoqey people, we honour our shared relationships.

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