INTER-PROFESSIONAL COOPERATION IN AMBULAN T CARE OF ELDER PEOPLE - RESULTS OF A RESEARCH-PROJECT

As is well known from experience, physicians, nurses, and other not-me dical professions in ambulant care for elder people generally do not c o-operate intensively, although there are many points of contact. With regard to this situation and the growth of the group of very old peop le, which request the further development of geriatric medicine and re habilitation, a research project was realized in order to build up, im prove and, as far as necessary, systematize inter-professional coopera tion; this process was evaluated referring to the conditions and the e ffects of more intensive co-operation. This project led to several agr eements concerning the improvement of co-operation; especially there a re indications that the elder people in question are better cared for on the basis of intensive inter-professional co-operation and that avo idable expenses can be saved.