Delirium is a serious medical condition where people experience sudden changes in their thinking, attention and memory, causing them to become confused, agitated or drowsy.
Usually lasting from a few days to weeks, it can lead to serious complications such as falls, pressure injuries, longer hospital admissions and sometimes death.
We know the best treatment for delirium is prevention – around 30-40 per cent of delirium cases that occur in hospital are preventable. However, delirium is not well detected by health professionals and is often misdiagnosed for dementia or depression.
A collaborative approach
In partnership with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), Safer Care Victoria are leading a breakthrough collaborative focusing on delirium. The collaborative uses the IHI’s proven model for improvement and runs from February–November 2019.
Who's involved?
Albury Wodonga Health |
Alfred Health |
Ballarat Health Services |
Barwon Health |
Bendigo Health |
Central Gippsland Health |
Colac Area Health |
Corryong Health |
Eastern Health |
Goulburn Valley Health |
Latrobe Regional Hospital |
Melbourne Health |
Mercy Health |
Monash Health |
Northern Health |
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre |
Portland District Health |
South West Healthcare |
St Vincent’s Hospital |
West Gippsland Health |
Western Health |
Outcomes
Improved care for older patients in hospital, through better diagnosis, prevention and treatment of delirium.
Measurables
Focusing on a specific inpatient ward, health services will:
- reduce length of stay for patients at risk of delirium by 0.5 days
- reduce falls by 20 per cent in hospitalised patients.
Resources for health services
National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards
The NSQHS Comprehensive Care Standard outlines the requirements for your health service AMS program to review how you screen and assess patients and ensure care plans reflect their physical, mental and cognitive healthcare needs.
Organisations will be assessed against the new standards from January 2019.
Identifying delirium
Use these tools to improve how you recognise and diagnose delirium.
Preventing and managing delirium
Read just some of the ways we can help older people and their families and carers understand, prevent and manage delirium.
Related links
Get in touch
Page last updated: 17 Sep 2019