In the geriatric population, fragility fractures are common and cause immense morbidity and mortality. Poor outcomes have led to the development and implementation of specific geriatric hip fracture protocols that focus on Rapid Surgical Intervention (RSI).

A secondary data analysis study explored the relationship of rapid surgical intervention for the geriatric fracture population to the clinical outcomes of in-hospital delirium and pressure ulcer, and economic outcomes of post-procedure length of stay and total hospital charges.

The results of the study indicated that RSI was associated with lower post-procedure lengths of stay (LOS), lower total charges, and lower rates of in-hospital pressure ulcer development. Total charges for an individual hospital encounter are largely driven by the patient’s LOS and uneventful return to pre-hospital functional levels. Safe reduction of LOS for a patient population generally improves the hospital’s income for that population.

Therefore, economic implications of these findings support the investments hospitals will need to make to implement RSI programs. To learn more, see Dries (2018). Rapid surgical intervention for geriatric patients with fractures: Economic and clinical outcomes. Nursing Economic$, 36(2), 88-96.

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