Discharge Transition of Patients Discharged to Home
Conditions
Keywords
hospital discharge, discharge readiness, readmission, Emergency Department visits, Nurse assessment
Brief summary
Preparation of patients for discharge is a primary function of hospital-based nursing care and readiness for discharge is an important outcome of hospital care. Inadequacies in discharge preparation have been well-documented and linked to difficulty with self-management after hospital discharge and with increased likelihood of emergency department (ED) use and readmission. Prior studies by the research team have led to recommendations for implementation of discharge readiness assessment as a standard nursing practice for hospital discharge. The investigators will conduct a multi-site study to determine the impact on post-discharge utilization (readmission and ED visits) and costs of implementing discharge readiness assessment as a standard nursing practice for adult medical-surgical patients discharged to home. The study tests, in a stepped approach, the impact of implementing discharge readiness assessment by the discharging nurse as standard nursing practice (RN-RHDS protocol), the incremental value of informing the nurse assessment with the patient's perspective (RN-RHDS+PT-RHDS protocol), and of requiring that the nurse initiates and documents risk-mitigating actions for patients with low readiness scores (RN-RHDS+PT-RHDS+NIAF protocol). HYPOTHESIS 1: Patients discharged using the RN-RHDS protocol will have fewer hospital readmissions and ED visits within 30 days post-discharge compared to patients discharged under usual care conditions. HYPOTHESIS 2: Patients discharged using the RN-RHDS+PT-RHDS protocol will have fewer hospital readmissions and ED visits within 30 days post-discharge compared to patients discharged using the RN-RHDS protocol. HYPOTHESIS 3: Patients discharged by nurses using the RN-RHDS+PT-RHDS protocol plus a Nurse-Initiated Action Form \[NIAF\] (RN-RHDS+PT-RHDS+NIAF protocol) will have fewer post-discharge readmissions and ED visits than patients discharged using the RN-RHDS+PT-RHDS protocol; the effect will be strongest for patients with low RHDS scores. Aim 4: Conduct cost-benefit analysis of implementing discharge readiness assessment as standard practice, by comparing cost-savings from reduced post-discharge utilization against implementation costs.
Interventions
OTHERRN-RHDS protocol
The discharging nurse assesses each patient being discharged home using the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RN version)
OTHERRN-RHDS+PT-RHDS protocol
The discharging nurse obtains and reviews patient self-report of discharge readiness using the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale - Patient version and then completes the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RN version)
OTHERRN-RHDS + PT-RHDS + NIAF
The discharging nurse assesses each patient being discharged home using the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RN version)after reviewing the patients self-perception of discharge readiness (PT-RHDS) and then records any actions taken in response to the discharge readiness assessment on the Nurse Initiated Action form (NIAF). When any item on the RN-RHDS is less than 7, an action is required.
Sponsors
Marquette University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
FACTORIAL
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Medical, surgical, or medical-surgical nursing units of Magnet designated hospitals * Patients 18 years of age or more, English speaking,able to read and understand consent who are being discharged to home as the discharge destination. * Nursing personnel (Registered Nurses or Licensed Practical Nurses) who are performing discharge instructions and procedures on the day of hospital discharge.
Exclusion criteria
* Patients discharged to home with hospice care.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Post-discharge Utilization within 30 days after hospital discharge | 30 days after hospital discharge | Readmissions and Emergency Department Visits within 30 days after hospital discharge |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse Initiated Action Form | measured on day of hospital discharge typically 1 to 30 days after hospital admission | Measures actions taken by the discharging nurse in response to discharge readiness assessment |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale - RN version | measured on day of hospital discharge typically 1 to 30 days after hospital admission | Nurses perceptions of patient readiness for hospital discharge |
| Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale - Patient version | measured on day of hospital discharge typically 1 to 30 days after hospital admission | Patient perception of discharge readiness |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed