Streamlining Hospital Discharges for Better Patient Outcomes

By Jessie Ventura, MSN, RN, PCCN, MS-BC, PHN

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Several studies have highlighted the benefits of early discharge initiatives, particularly emphasizing the positive impact on hospital efficiency and patient outcomes. For example, Wertheimer et al. (2014) demonstrated that implementing a discharge before noon strategy increased the percentage of early discharges from 11% to 38% and moved the average discharge time earlier by 1 hour and 31 minutes. Additionally, this study reported a decrease in the observed-to-expected (O/E) length of stay from 1.06 to 0.96, although the decline in the 30-day readmission rate from 14.3% to 13.1% was not statistically significant. Sklansky et al. (2019) illustrated that proactive discharge planning and early patient discharge designation in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) improved discharge timeliness, contributing to more streamlined hospital operations and better patient care. Madsen et al. (2021) highlighted that delays in discharge adversely affect hospital operations, resulting in bed shortages and increased costs, whereas addressing these delays can enhance resource utilization and care quality. Khanna et al. (2016) affirmed that timely discharges mitigate hospital overcrowding and reduce emergency department bottlenecks, improving both patient and staff satisfaction.

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Benefits of Discharging Before Noon

For Patients:

  • Reduced risk of hospital-acquired infections.

  • More time to settle at home.

  • Easier access to pharmacy and support services.

For Families:

  • Smoother coordination for pick-ups.

  • Better opportunity to set up care at home.

  • Reduced waiting times in the hospital.