Banner Health secures grant to enhance delirium detection tool

More from this show

Banner University Medical Center Phoenix is one of seven health care systems in the nation to be awarded a $100,000 grant by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement to support the implementation of a new diagnostic tool used to detect delirium in patients.

Banner Health’s tool, the Neurological Orientation and Verbal Response Assessment for Delirium (NOVAD), uses data from the electronic medical record to tell medical staff if a patient is at high risk for delirium, which is a serious change in mental abilities resulting in confusion and lack of awareness.

Dr. Nimit Agarwal, Chief of Geriatric Medicine at Banner University Medical Center Phoenix, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss the effects of the new tool and delirium in patients.

Dr. Agarwal explained delirium appears in two different states, hypoactive and hyperactive. Some patients experience drowsiness and a decrease in motivation; those are considered to be in the hypoactive state. On the other hand, the hyperactive state happens when the cells are agitated and restless, according to Dr. Agarwal.

Arizona’s older population often requires a higher, more specialized level of care during inpatient hospitalizations due to increased risks for complications in an acute-care setting.

“What we are also finding in research is patients who have developed delirium, they might be at higher risk of developing dementia down the line,” Dr. Agarwal said.

Research shows the prevalence of delirium in hospitalized patients is about 30%, but many cases are often missed or unconfirmed. If not diagnosed early, delirium has the potential to affect patients’ abilities to eat, swallow and is a risk for infection, which may lead to increased length of stay and even mortality.

“There are new measures from CMS, from Medicare, which are asking for hospitals to do age-friendly care,” Dr. Agarwal said.

He referred to a method in which doctors look past the disease and into the livelihood of patients in the hospital. For example, their mobilization, their mental state, potential delirium in this case and intake of medication.

Dr. Nimit Agarwal, Chief of Geriatric Medicine, Banner University Medical Center Phoenix

The American and Arizona flag in front of large rocks
airs Feb. 14

Celebrate Arizona’s Statehood Day with local content

Playlist 48 season 3 promo video collage
aired Feb. 8

Discover new performers on ‘Playlist 48’ season 3

Beef bourguignon shepherd's pie from Beckett's Table
airs Feb. 13

Season 12 of ‘Check, Please! Arizona’ airs Thursdays

Graphic for 2025 Arizona PBS Digital Video Contest
Feb. 28

Submit your entry in the Arizona PBS Digital Video Contest

Subscribe to Arizona PBS Newsletters

STAY in touch
with azpbs.org!

Subscribe to Arizona PBS Newsletters: