The Social Admit

Occasionally, we take the completely inappropriate social admit. Tonight, I admitted a patient who I feel has no medical needs, but has nowhere to go. He previously resided at a nursing facility, but because of progressive Alzheimer's, has exceeded the ability for the nursing facility to care for him. A family member brought him into the emergency department because frankly, he has nowhere else to go. The ED is unable to find him a suitable disposition (destination) and so he's admitted to the medicine service under my care. But there's very little for me to offer him. He has no symptoms other than his dementia, for which he's already receiving the right medications. Since it's the weekend, social work and case management won't help find him a more suitable nursing facility. So he stays here without a clear indication, using up resources. This is modern medicine.