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. 2022 Jan-Mar;37(1):54-60.
doi: 10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000558.

Standardized Discharge Planning Tool Leads to Earlier Discharges and Fewer Readmissions

Colleen Kucharczuk  1 , Erin Lightheart, Allison Kodan, Cassandra Haynes, Susan Rabatin, Joy Burke, Jamie Senger, Lindsay Lee, Sarah Brinley, Mary Angela Decena, Juanita M Cruz, Rebecca Hirsh, Kathy McCauley
Affiliations

Standardized Discharge Planning Tool Leads to Earlier Discharges and Fewer Readmissions

Colleen Kucharczuk et al. J Nurs Care Qual. 2022 Jan-Mar.

Abstract

Background: In an inpatient setting, aspects of discharge planning are often left to the provider's memory, leading to errors, inefficiencies, and avoidable costs.

Methods: A multidisciplinary team of oncology practitioners used process improvement methodologies to redesign the discharge planning process.

Interventions: The primary intervention was an evidence-based discharge planning tool, called the discharge navigator, used from admission through discharge.

Results: Thirty-day unplanned readmission rates decreased by 29.0% from preimplementation (March 2017 through August 2017) to postimplementation (September 2017 through March 2020). The percentage of patients discharged before noon increased 76.2%. A comparable service not utilizing the intervention saw lesser or no improvement in these measures.

Conclusion: The tool provided a systematic approach to discharge planning. Key design elements included a centralized location within the electronic health record and an electronic shortcut to populate the tool. Although developed for a specialized population, most elements are applicable to any hospitalized patient.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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