Follow-up evaluation of discharge planning by social workers in an acute-care medical center in Israel

Abstract

This paper describes the outcomes of a study in which an early and comprehensive discharge planning protocol was used by social workers in an acute-care center in Israel. Comparison patients received standard social work services provided by the department. Telephone follow-up interviews were conducted at 3-weeks and 2-months intervals post discharge. The expected outcomes of reduced rates of emergency room visits and readmissions, or greater satisfaction with health services were not achieved. Rather, the study group patients had significantly higher rates of emergency room visits, and tended to be less satisfied with discharge planning and significantly less satisfied with post-hospital health services. No differences in readmission rates were observed. The study patients were more likely to be discharged to a home-care program and to have received such services or still be in the LTC institutions to which they had been referred at follow-ups. The difference in rate of emergency room visits between the two groups decreased when controlling for type of service and for satisfaction in a regression model. Implications for social work practice are discussed.