Orthogeriatric rehabilitation ward in Nottingham: A preliminary report

Abstract

771 patients with femoral neck fracture were rehabilitated in a orthogeriatric ward. The average length of stay in hospital fell from 66 to 48 days, a saving of 27%. Beds were thus released for other purposes; 8676 patient/bed/days were saved compared with what would have been notionally used at the 1977 length of stay. Apart from these benefits the orthogeriatric rehabilitation ward has stimulated interest in and enthusiasm for a group of patients who had previously often been thought of as tedious.