What is intermediate care?

doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7462.360

BMJ 2004;329:360-361 (14 August), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7462.360

Editorial

What is intermediate care?

An international consensus on what constitutes intermediatecare is needed

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Intermediate care is an emerging concept in health care, whichmay offer attractive alternatives to hospital care for elderlypatients. As little scientific evidence exists on the benefitsof intermediate care, research is especially important.^1-3 Aprerequisite for research is agreement on the definition ofa concept, which is lacking for intermediate care. The termintermediate care is often used as if its meaning is clear,but it conveys little meaning other than being about care thatis "in between." Commonly used definitions of intermediate caredo not help much, and several very different definitions arein use. What is needed at the outset is a consensus on whatconstitutes intermediate care. Until this is agreed on, theconcept of intermediate care will remain a mirage and its possibilitiesunknown.

The term intermediate care was introduced in the United Kingdom'sNHS Plan and refined in the national service framework . . . [Full text of this article]

René J F Melis, researcher, Marcel G M Olde Rikkert, professor in geriatrics

Department of Geriatric Medicine, Internal Postal Code 318, University Medical Centre Nijmegen PO Box 9101, NL-6500 HB Nijmegen, Netherlands (r.melis@ger.umcn.nl)

Stuart G Parker, professor in geriatrics

Sheffield Institute for Studies on Ageing, Barnsley District General Hospital, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TU

Monique I J van Eijken, researcher

Centre for Quality of Care Research (WOK), University Medical Centre Nijmegen, Geert Grooteplein 21, NL-6525 EZ, Nijmegen, Netherlands

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