Which risk stratification model is used to predict the risk of hospitalization and emergency department visits?

• A. Charlton Comorbidity Measure
• B. Braden Scale
• C. Elder Risk Assessment
• D. Minnesota Tiering

Answer: (C)

The key idea is using a tool specifically designed to forecast how likely an older patient is to need acute care services, like hospitalization or an emergency department visit. The Elder Risk Assessment does just that by leveraging information commonly found in medical records—such as age, prior hospitalizations, prior ED visits, and chronic conditions—to estimate a patient’s risk of future hospitalization or ED use. This makes it particularly useful for identifying high-risk patients who might benefit from proactive care coordination and prevention efforts.

In contrast, the Charlson Comorbidity Measure is built to predict mortality risk and overall resource use rather than focused on hospital or ED visits; the Braden Scale is used to assess risk for pressure ulcers; and Minnesota Tiering is a broader risk-stratification approach not specifically validated for predicting hospitalization or ED visits in older adults.