Should I Hospitalize My Resident With Nursing Home-Acquired Pneumonia?

There is growing evidence to suggest that hospitalization for residents with NHAP is not required and may result in increased cost, morbidity, and mortality. To date, studies show that residents may benefit from hospitalization if their respiratory rate is over 40. Otherwise, if appropriate treatment can be initiated expeditiously in the nursing home, resident mortality and morbidity may decrease. Numerous barriers to treating acutely ill residents in the nursing home exist, including a difficulty in obtaining antibiotics quickly, inadequate staffing, and poor documentation of a resident's wishes for hospitalization. More studies need to be conducted to further identify these barriers to nursing home care.