Mission: Safer Patient Discharges

As a dedicated nurse, my passion lies in ensuring patients' safe and efficient discharge from the hospital. With a focus on improving the inpatient discharge process, I aim to enhance hospital efficiency and patient outcomes. Through my experience and commitment to patient-centered care, I strive to streamline discharge procedures, promote timely transitions, and ultimately contribute to a smoother and more effective healthcare experience for all.

The discharge before noon initiative aims to optimize inpatient care by facilitating timely discharges to alleviate overcrowding, mitigate bed shortages, and improve hospital metrics and patient outcomes. The initiative implemented in an inpatient unit includes afternoon interdisciplinary rounds, real-time feedback, designated discharge times in the Electronic Health Record (Epic), and daily leadership meetings to address bottlenecks. Guided by the PARIHS framework, this approach will show significant improvements: discharges before noon will increase, average discharge time should advance, and the length of stay will decrease, enhancing patient and staff satisfaction.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Discharge Process and Early Discharges

Q1: Why is being discharged before noon important?

  • A1: Discharging patients before noon helps reduce hospital overcrowding, allows new patients to be admitted sooner, and ensures that patients can settle at home with plenty of daylight hours left to address any immediate needs like picking up prescriptions.

Q2: How will I know if I am ready to be discharged before noon?

  • A2: Your healthcare team will evaluate your readiness based on your medical condition and ensure that all necessary care and instructions are provided before discharge. You will be kept informed and prepared for your discharge time.

Q3: What if I still feel unwell or unable to leave before noon?

  • A3: Your safety and well-being are our top priorities. If you are not ready to be discharged, your healthcare team will reassess your condition and make arrangements to ensure you receive the care you need before leaving the hospital.

Q4: Will an early discharge affect the quality of my care?

  • A4: Absolutely not. The goal of early discharge is to improve the efficiency of your care. You will only be discharged when it is medically appropriate, with all necessary instructions and support in place.

Q5: How will my family be informed about my discharge time?

  • A5: Clear and timely communication is crucial. Your healthcare team will keep you and your family updated about your expected discharge time and any necessary arrangements that need to be made.

Q6: What steps should I take to prepare for my discharge?

  • A6: Your healthcare team will provide you with detailed instructions and checklists, including any medications you need to pick up, follow-up appointments, and guidelines for home care. Make sure to ask any questions if you are unsure about something.

Q7: Can I request a specific discharge time?

  • A7: While we strive to discharge patients before noon for operational efficiency, your specific needs and medical situation will be taken into account. Discuss any preferences or concerns with your healthcare team.

Q8: What if I need assistance getting home?

  • A8: If you require transportation or other assistance, please inform your healthcare team as soon as possible. We can help arrange the necessary support to ensure you get home safely.

Q9: How will an early discharge affect follow-up care?

  • A9: Early discharge does not change your follow-up care plan. You will receive all necessary instructions and schedules for follow-up appointments, ensuring continuity of care.

Q10: What if I have questions or concerns after being discharged?

  • A10: We are here to help you even after you leave the hospital. You will be provided with contact information for any questions or concerns about your post-discharge care.

References

Khanna, S., Boyle, J., Good, N., & Lind, J. (2016). Impact of hospital occupancy on ED patient flow performance. Emergency Medicine

Australasia, 28(1), 61-67.

Madsen, F. J., Cook, N. A., & Delaney, L. (2021). The efficiency impact of hospital discharge delays. Journal of Hospital Management and

Health Policy, 5, 8-14.

Patient+Discharge Images – Browse 7,108 Stock Photos, Vectors, and Video https://stock.adobe.com/search?k=patient%2Bdischarge

Sklansky, M., Flanagan, J., Speier, H., Isbell, T. S., Couch, D., & Harmsen, W. S. (2019). Same-day discharges: Early planning does matter.

The American Journal of Managed Care, 25(8), 380-386.

Wertheimer, B., Jacobs, R. E. A., Iturrate, E., Bailey, M., Hochman, K., Colgan, C., ... & Roy, C. (2014). Discharge before noon: A novel way

of improving the throughput of an academic medical center hospital medicine service. Journal of Hospital Medicine, 9(10), 649-654.