An urgent geriatric assessment outpatient clinic pilot will be launched at the beginning of September

The Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County is currently conducting an urgent geriatric assessment outpatient clinic project. It will be piloted in the Espoo region between 1 September 2025 and 28 February 2026.

The goal of the pilot is to provide a structured geriatric assessment within 1–2 weeks of the arrival of the referral for ≥70-year-old fragile older people with an observed decline of daily functional capacity. The service fulfils a real need, as the current service structures do not sufficiently reach patient groups that would benefit from an urgent geriatric assessment.

The outpatient clinic has a multiprofessional team consisting of a nurse, a physiotherapist and a physician.

Urgent geriatric assessment includes the collection of patient history, structured assessment using validated indicators, clinical status assessment, overall assessment and update of medication, summary of health and functional capacity, initiation of treatment, and recording a follow-up plan and guiding the patient onto the correct care pathway.

The purpose of the assessment is to identify the underlying causes of the decline of functional capacity and to find solutions for rectifying the situation. For example, previously undiagnosed diseases, such as suspected memory disorders or disturbances in the therapeutic equilibrium of chronic diseases, may be identified and treatment initiated in a timely manner.

Pharmacotherapy will be assessed comprehensively in connection with outpatient clinic visits. Taking unnecessary or harmful medicines may be discontinued and new, necessary medication may be initiated. The patient’s list of medicines and prescriptions will also be updated.

At the end of the assessment, an individual care plan will be created, and the patient will be referred to the follow-up services they need. This ensures that the older person knows how their treatment will continue and who will be responsible for it.

The assessment will be conducted by referral of a professional. Nurses of the wellbeing services county’s discharge team, physicians of the Espoo Hospital’s emergency ward, Senior Info client managers and physicians working at health stations may refer patients to the pilot.

It is important to note that the urgent geriatric assessment outpatient clinic is not intended for persons who need urgent care, inpatient care, assessment unit services, palliative outpatient care, home rehabilitation or home care.