Early Hospital Discharge
December 3, 2019
Thirty days after release from the hospital can pose a risky time for many people. A study found that nearly 20% of patients experience adverse events within 3 weeks of discharge, nearly three-quarters of which could have been prevented.
Early discharge dangers include:
- Adverse drug events are the most common post-discharge complication
- hospital-acquired infections
- procedural complications
- hazards arising from the fact that nearly 40% of patients are discharged with test results pending
- discharged with a plan to complete the diagnostic workup as an outpatient
In addition, there is increasing concern that the stressful hospital environment may lead to post-hospitalization syndrome— a patho-physiologic syndrome of weakness and increased stress that may leave patients vulnerable to clinical adverse events such as falls and infections. Nearly 20% of Medicare patients are re-hospitalized within 30 days of discharge.
Questions to consider in hospital discharge:
- Can patient get in and out of bed safely?
- Can patient eat and drink?
- Is patient able to self-administer medications and manage follow up visits?
- Is there any new symptoms or unresolved pain prior to discharge?
- Are all labs and test results completed?
Many re-admissions are done under emergency circumstances. These circumstances may harm a patient through:
- Protracted pain and suffering
- Prolonged recovery period
- Additional medical expenses
- Loss of time from work
Experts that assist in evaluation of early release cases include:
- Hospital Administrator
- Emergency Room Personnel
- Hospitalists
- Discharge Social Workers
Saponaro Inc., can assist with the right expert for your case.
We conduct a customized search for each expert requested.
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