In this article, the authors review the literature on the hospitalization of nursing home residents. First, they describe the incidence of hospitalization and the extent to which these rates differ due to data limitations, varying definitions of hospitalization, and changing health policies. Second, they describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of nursing home residents associated with hospitalization. Third, they review negative outcomes of hospitalization, including iatrogenic and nosocomial disease, mortality, and financial costs. Finally, they highlight several areas of concern this research raises and suggest areas for future studies.
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