New toolkit aims to cut unnecessary hospital trips for nursing home residents

NCT ID NCT07359521

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Aug 11, 2026 · Updated 4 times

Summary

This pilot study tests a set of tools designed to help nursing home staff decide when a hospital visit is truly needed. The goal is to reduce avoidable hospital stays, which can be stressful and harmful for residents. Twelve nursing homes will use the toolkit, and researchers will track hospital visits and staff confidence.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
RATHER-NH Toolkit (quality improvement tools, early warning tool, communication forms, care paths, advance care planning document)
What this could lead to
If successful, this could provide a practical toolkit to reduce unnecessary hospital stays for nursing home residents, improving their quality of life.
What could go wrong
This is a very small pilot study with only 12 nursing homes, so results may not apply broadly. The intervention is complex and may be hard to implement consistently.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for POTENTIALLY AVOIDABLE HOSPITALISATIONS are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • WZC Annuntiaten

    Heverlee, Belgium

  • WZC De Cocon

    Dendermonde, Belgium

  • WZC Domino

    Ghent, Belgium

  • WZC Martinas

    Merchtem, Belgium

  • WZC Sint-Elisabeth

    Eeklo, Belgium

  • WZC Ter Moere

    Lokeren, Belgium