Can a frailty index be used in primary care

Can a frailty index be used in primary care practice to improve prognositication at the end of life

Health professionals need to recognise when a patient may be nearing the end of their lives, so that they can talk to them about the sort of care they would prefer, and where they would like to be treated during their final illness.
 
General practitioners can find it difficult to know when a frail older person is likely to die, as their health may have been declining for some time. To help GPs identify and assess the severity of frailty amongst their patients, researchers have put together a simple tool in one of the GP computer systems.  An electronic frailty index (eFI) is calculated, using information recorded in patients' electronic health records.
 
Three million people aged over 65 now have a frailty score available.  This research will look at whether the eFI would be useful to help GPs to identify their frail, older patients who may be approaching the end of life.
 
Link below to website.

SPCR Frailty

Outputs

Standing H, Hanratty B.  Electronic frailty index (eFI) in primary care: Useful tool or another nail in the coffin of craft-based care?  BSA MedSoc September 2017.
 
Hanratty B, Standing H.  Could a frailty index enhance primary care for frail older adults at the end of life?.  Society for Academic Primary Care, 6-8 July 2016, Dublin Castle, Dublin.