Perioperative medicine training resources: U6M9: Discharge planning considerations

Abstract Canadian scholarship shows higher rates of hospital readmission among homeless than housed populations, signaling that their health needs are not being met post-discharge. The discharge process is meant to ensure patients’ care is transitioned to the community and is recognized by communities and homelessness researchers as a critical point of transition; yet little research has examined this process from acute physical care services. This exploratory qualitative study aimed to characterize the hospital discharge process for people experiencing homelessness when discharged from general medicine in Toronto, Canada. Informed by critical realism, it explains how and why discharging homeless patients remains a challenge. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were held with 16 hospital workers involved in the discharge process from three urban hospitals, six shelter workers who receive discharged patients, and 11 key informants with expertise in homelessness and healthcare. Results broadly characterize the process, situating inadequate discharges as a consequence of the failure of multiple systems on which the discharge process relies: barriers to publicly-funded systems, and silos and gaps between these systems. Further findings shed light on contextual influences of two ii features of the discharge process. First, finding an appropriate discharge destination was challenged by historical and contemporary social and economic contexts that triggered the adoption of efficiency and accountability measures in hospitals, and eligibility and exclusion criteria in shelters. Second, within the legal context of health information protection in Ontario, knowledge sharing between hospitals and shelters was complicated by the concept of circle of care that excludes shelter workers from the discharge process. Certain geographic and organizational contexts have activated the development of institutional- and individual-level relationships between some hospitals and shelters or their workers, which improved knowledge sharing. Despite the agency exhibited by our participants, the discharge process was marred by uneven power dynamics between hospitals and shelters and a service gap where neither hospitals nor shelters are responsible for the wellbeing of homeless patients post-discharge. Future research should centre the voices of people experiencing homelessness who go through the discharge process and adopt an intersectional analysis to better understand how the discharge process is shaped by patients’ intersecting social locations.

Discharge against medical advice (DAMA), also referred to as self-discharge, occurs when an in-patient leaves a hospital or healthcare setting before discharge is advised by the treating provider. DAMA causes interruption of treatment therapies and is strongly associated with post-operative complications, increased morbidity and mortality, readmission, and increased healthcare expenditure. It is widely known that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples suffer from increased rates of chronic disease and have poorer health outcomes than the non-Indigenous population. It is now understood that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are also overrepresented in self-discharge rates, especially in the rural and remote context (Wright 2009b, Katzenellenbogen et al. 2013, AIHW 2013). DAMA rates are considered a measure of the responsiveness of hospitals to the needs of their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. Currently high levels suggest that acute care settings are not effectively addressing the concerns of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients in order to keep them engaged in care for the duration of their treatment. The literature review identified that there are a number of contributory factors associated with DAMA among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Several significant factors are: institutionalised racism, a lack of cultural safety, a distrust of the health system, miscommunication, family and social obligations, and isolation and loneliness. Evidence suggests that enhancing cultural safety in hospitals is instrumental in reducing self-discharge. Cultural safety is based on partnership between provider and patient, in which shared respect underpins improved communication, treatment decisions and health outcomes (Wright 2009b). For the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, the presence of Aboriginal Health Workers (AHWs) and Aboriginal Liaison Officers (ALOs) has been demonstrated to enhance cultural safety, improve patient care, and in certain cases, significantly reduce self-discharge (Einsiedel et al. 2012, Katzenellenbogen et al. 2013). AHWs and ALOs are well placed to help reduce DAMA in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. However, institutional changes are needed to optimise this role. Greater employment and utilisation of AHWs/ALOs in hospitals, underpinned by a nationally recognised scope of practice, can enhance their ability to provide culturally appropriate care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. Coordination between acute and communitybased care providers can aid in offering healthcare services that are more accessible and culturally acceptable. Improved community care and health education may encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients to remain in care for the duration of their treatment.

Abstract
Background and aim of the work Standardizing patients' assessment to identify individuals at greater risk in encountering difficulties at discharge may help to assist healthcare professionals in clinical decision making and address the gaps in quality that negatively affect continuity of care. We analyzed the predictive validity and the test-retest reliability of the BRASS index in surgical inpatients. Moreover, we evaluated the association between other variables and length of stay or location at discharge. Methods A prospective observational study was conducted. Four hundred twenty-eight patients (≥18 years old) hospitalized in the surgical department of Vimercate hospital were recruited. Data were collected using BRASS index within 48 hours from admission and before discharge. Results We found a high specificity for BRASS in identifying patients discharged to their home with assistance or to residential care. The hospital stay for medium and high-risk patients was significantly longer than those in the low-risk group. There was no statistically significant difference of the BRASS scores during hospitalization. Type of admission, pressure ulcers, ASA score, multidrug-resistant bacterial infections, medical complications and Intensive Unit Care stay showed a significant correlation with longer hospitalization and increased probability to be discharged to their home with assistance or to residential care. Conclusions The BRASS Index may support healthcare professionals to identify surgical inpatients requiring a discharge planning and needs to be completed just once at admission. The inclusion of other patient-specific factors in the assessment process could be valuable for targeting the at-risk population.

Abstract
Background: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a unique place in Australia as the original inhabitants of the land. Similar to other First Nations people globally, they experience a disproportionate burden of injury and chronic health conditions. Discharge planning ensures ongoing care to avoid complications and achieve better health outcomes. Analysing discharge interventions that have been implemented and evaluated globally for First Nations people with an injury or chronic conditions can inform the implementation of strategies to ensure optimal ongoing care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted to analyse discharge interventions conducted globally among First Nations people who sustained an injury or suffered from a chronic condition. We included documents published in English between January 2010 and July 2022. We followed the reporting guidelines and criteria set in Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review (PRISMA). Two independent reviewers screened the articles and extracted data from eligible papers. A quality appraisal of the studies was conducted using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool and the CONSIDER statement.

Results: Four quantitative and one qualitative study out of 4504 records met inclusion criteria. Three studies used interventions involving trained health professionals coordinating follow-up appointments, linkage with community care services and patient training. One study used 48-hour post discharge telephone follow-up and the other text messages with prompts to attend check-ups. The studies that included health professional coordination of follow-up, linkage with community care and patient education resulted in decreased readmissions, emergency presentations, hospital length of stay and unattended appointments.

Conclusion: Further research on the field is needed to inform the design and delivery of effective programs to ensure quality health aftercare for First Nations people. We observed that discharge interventions in line with the principal domains of First Nations models of care including First Nations health workforce, accessible health services, holistic care, and self-determination were associated with better health outcomes.

Abstract
Older people are particularly vulnerable to hospital re-presentation following discharge. Ideal discharge planning processes facilitate the transition from hospital to home and prevent subsequent re-presentations to hospital. The objective of this study was to examine discharge planning processes in two Australian hospitals, compare them between sites and to best-practice recommendations. An ethnographic observational study of discharge planning processes was conducted at two general medical inpatient wards at a large tertiary hospital and a smaller regional hospital in Brisbane, Australia. Participants were patients and ward staff involved in discharge planning during a hospital admission. A literature review was conducted to elicit best-practice recommendations for discharge planning. Data for this study (duration: 112 h) were collected directly using field notes by a research assistant embedded in the ward. A directed qualitative content analysis approach was used for data analysis. Results were compared to best-practice recommendations. Findings indicate that both hospitals implemented various best-practice interventions to enhance communication, collaboration, coordination and patient/family engagement for optimal discharge planning. Strategies used were context specific and effective to varying degrees. Clear responsibilities and goals within the multidisciplinary team helped to create cohesive, well-functioning teams. More work is needed to engage patients and families in discharge planning, and to encourage health professionals to consider patients and family as active team members in the discharge planning process.

Abstract
Background: Researchers have shown that hospitalisation can decrease older persons' ability to manage life at home after hospital discharge. Inadequate practices of discharge can be associated with adverse outcomes and an increased risk of readmission. This review systematically summarises qualitative findings portraying older persons' experiences adapting to daily life at home after hospital discharge.

Methods: A metasummary of qualitative findings using Sandelowski and Barroso's method. Data from 13 studies are included, following specific selection criteria, and categorised into four main themes.

Results: Four main themes emerged from the material: (1) Experiencing an insecure and unsafe transition, (2) settling into a new situation at home, (3) what would I do without my informal caregiver? and (4) experience of a paternalistic medical model.

Conclusions: The results emphasise the importance of assessment and planning, information and education, preparation of the home environment, the involvement of the older person and caregivers and supporting self-management in the discharge and follow-up care processes at home. Better communication between older persons, hospital providers and home care providers is needed to improve the coordination of care and facilitate recovery at home. The organisational structure may need to be redefined and reorganised to secure continuity of care and the wellbeing of older persons in transitional care situations.

Abstract in English, French
People experiencing homelessness have worse health outcomes than the general population and limited access to primary/preventative healthcare. This leads to high hospital readmission rates. Effective discharge planning can improve recovery rates and reduce hospital costs. However, most hospital discharge policies and best practice guidelines are not tailored to patients with no fixed address, contributing to inappropriate discharges and health inequities for people experiencing homelessness. We discuss the lack of discharge policies, identifiable processes or plans specifically tailored to this population as a healthcare and policy gap, and we identify key areas for better understanding and addressing this issue.

Abstract
Hospital discharge planning for clients with schizophrenia reduces client rehospitalization rates and improves their medication adherence. The effectiveness of caregiver participation in hospital discharge planning has seldom been explored. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of caregiver participation in hospital discharge planning for clients with schizophrenia in reducing caregiver burden and improving health status. A quasi-experimental research design was adopted. The research location was in a psychiatric hospital in Northern Taiwan. The target population was caregivers of inpatients with schizophrenia. Nurses served as care coordinators and provided six-step hospital discharge planning services to caregivers. Structured questionnaires were employed to measure caregiver burden and health status. Intervention effect was tested using analysis of covariance in which outcome measure at pretest and selected demographic variables were treated as covariates. A total of 114 caregivers completed pretest and posttest evaluations, with 57 people in each group. A significant difference was found between the experimental and the control group regarding the caregiver burden and health status (P<0.001) The caregiver burden and health status of the experimental group improved more significantly compared with the control group. The caregiver-involved discharge planning process developed in this study effectively reduced the burden placed on caregivers and improved their health status. Mental health nurses can serve as the main care coordinators for assessment, planning, referral and provision of the required services. Caregiver-involved hospital discharge planning should become part of the routine care process.

Abstract
This study examines the contribution of hospital discharge planning in meeting the needs of patients for care after their return home. A random sample of 919 admissions (age 60 and over) to five hospitals was studied to obtain information on characteristics of discharge planning during the patients' hospital stay. Specifically, information was obtained on the involvement of a designated professional for managing and coordinating the discharge plan, and the extent to which the planning was interdisciplinary. Patient interviews conducted two weeks after discharge provided information on needs for care related to: (1) treatment, (2) activity limitations, and (3) other self-sufficiency limitations. Patients were asked about their need for care in these three areas and about whether or not these needs were being met. Overall, 97 percent reported one or more needs for care and 33 percent reported that at least one of these needs was not being met. Findings show that the involvement of a discharge planning case manager is related to a significant reduction in unmet treatment needs, but not to reductions in activity limitation, other self-sufficiency needs, or overall needs. No significant effects of interdisciplinary planning were identified. These findings suggest that treatment-related benefits result when a case manager has specific responsibility for the discharge planning of elderly patients returning home after hospitalization. These results provide insights into what is being achieved through current discharge planning practices. The meeting of specific patient needs through enhanced discharge planning may save future costs by reducing the rates of complications and hospital readmissions in an era of prospective payment, thus potentially offsetting the increased costs involved in planning and coordinating postdischarge care for older adults.

Abstract
Background: In many hospitals, a discharge planning team works with the medical team to provide case management to ensure high-quality patient care and improve continuity of care from the hospital to the community. However, a large-scale database analysis of the effectiveness of overall discharge planning efforts is lacking.

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the clinical factors that impact the efficacy of discharge planning in terms of hospital length of stay, readmission rate, and survival status.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted based on patient medical records and the discharge plans applied to patients hospitalized in a regional medical center between 2017 and 2018. The medical information system database and the care service management information system maintained by the Ministry of Health and Welfare were used to collect data and explore patients' medical care and follow-up status.

Results: Clinical factors such as activities of daily living ≤ 60, having indwelling catheters, having poor control of chronic diseases, and insufficient caregiver capacity were found to be associated with longer hospitalization stays. In addition, men and those with indwelling catheters were found to have a higher risk of readmission within 30 days of discharge. Moreover, significantly higher mortality was found after discharge in men, those ≥ 75 years old, those with activities of daily living ≤ 60, those with indwelling catheters, those with pressure ulcers or unclean wounds, those with financial problems, those with caregivers with insufficient capacity, and those readmitted 14-30 days after discharge.

Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that implementing case management for discharge planning does not substantially reduce the length of hospital stay nor does it affect patients' readmission status or prognosis after discharge. However, age, underlying comorbidities, and specific disease factors decrease the efficacy of discharge planning. Therefore, active discharge planning interventions should be provided to ensure transitional care for high-risk patients.

Abstract
Current demographic and epidemiological trends highlight a growing task in surgical departments by elderly patients, characterized by high prevalence of comorbidity, complexity, and functional disability. Of consequence, discharge of an elderly patient must be considered in a new cultural perspective and should be imagined as a well-structured process starting from admission to surgical department and finishing with the patient discharge in a setting able to support her/him in the best possible way. The lack of a suitable discharge planning and of a proper transition program in the elderly subjects increases the risk of quick re-admission and may negatively affect the functional and the status quality of life of patients and caregivers. To reduce the risk of negative outcome it is essential a hospital organization dedicated to the discharge of frail older patients considering: (1) adequate attention to assess the comprehensive clinical/social/care conditions; (2) respect of the expectations of the patient and her/his relatives; (3) formalization of institutional roles or teams designated to the planning and coordination of discharge; (4) good knowledge of management programs of transitional care, and (5) strong communication/information ability in patients transition between hospital, home care and community settings.