In a meta-analysis of studies of emergency department discharges, Johns Hopkins' Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality have identified a framework of criteria for ED discharge, risk factors complicating discharge and interventions to improve discharge.
But, what makes an ED discharge high-quality?
According to the research brief, a high-quality discharge:
1. Informs and educates patients on their diagnosis, prognosis, treatment plan and expected course of illness, including informing patients of their visit details.
2. Supports patients in receiving post-ED discharge care, potentially including medications, home care, medical device use, diagnostic testing and further provider evaluation.
3. Coordinates ED care within the healthcare system/other healthcare providers/social services, etc.
Factors that increase the risk for poor ED discharge are both social and medical, according to the report. For more on ED discharge frameworks, click here.
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