Mobile Geriatric Teams – perceived benefits, health and socio-economic effects:

Mobile Geriatric Teams (MGT) offering person-centered, geriatric interventions with quality for this group has recently been developed in some Swedish regions. Current studies are limited to one geographical area and MGT has not been tested against a control group. Studies that can generate evidence about the potential health-related benefits of MGT, but also how the patient, family and staff (outside MGT) perceive teams' efforts are needed. Since this approach consumes common funds, it is relevant to compare it with traditional practice, to identify which ways of working that are most effective. The project aims to evaluate the health and socioeconomic effects and perceived benefits of patient/families and staff perspective of MGT. Data collection for an RCT with 30 participants in each group, i.e., intervention and two control groups, is ongoing. Additional participants will be recruited and serve as its own control. The study collects among others data on healthcare consumption, participants' health costs at individual level for hospital care, home health care and home care, and not least subjective data through interviews about health, quality of life, safety and usefulness of the MGT with the patient / family and benefit from the staff's perspective. Preliminary findings suggests that the MGT, provides good care and contributes to continuity as well as security for the target audience. Data at three month follow up also suggests 50 percent reduction in re-admissions at the completion of the intervention and also reduced health care consumption. The study is expected to demonstrate tangible and generalizable results.