Factors in Effective Discharge Planning. Executive Summary, Final Report and Appendices

摘要

This research project explored factors associated with the efficiency and effectiveness of discharge planning under the Medicare prospective payment system. The efficiency and effectiveness of discharge planning was found to be function of such factors as complications encountered in the planning, patient and family involvement, patient mental and physical status at discharge, discharge destination, and diagnosis. Patients' discharge plans were generally rated as adequate by the discharge planners. However, nearly one-third of patients were discharged with plans viewed as minimally acceptable or worse by the professional discharge planners. The study confirms the importance of professional intervention in discharge planning, as features of the planning process itself were associated with patient and family satisfaction and timeliness of discharge.