Grant: Operating Grant: SPOR PIHCI Network: Quick Strikes

Early identification of frailty can decrease end-of-life costs while increasing quality of life. At a minimum early identification of frailty is patient-centred since clinicians can begin a dialogue about treatments and dying at home. More work is needed in consistent and accurate detection of frailty or those at risk of becoming increasingly frail both at a clinical practice panel and at a population level. Identifying those who are frail in primary care as well as in communities could enable targeted communications with patients and families and community based resources in order to improve patient care, patients' and caregivers' quality of life and better use of the healthcare system. The goal of this work is to support healthy aging and the needs of older adults. The specific objectives of this study are to: (a) identify administrative and electronic medical record data derived algorithms of frailty in community dwelling seniors (aged 65 years and older); (b) conduct content, face, and predictive validation of the administrative and electronic medical record frailty algorithms by engaging primary care clinicians and patients; and (c) identify natural ranges of frailty associated with differential risks of experience a hospital-related event. This study will take place using administrative and electronic medical record data in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba. We engage primary care clinicians in developing ways to identify frailty. We engage patients in our integrated knowledge translation and exchange.