Discharge Planning Essay
Background
Failure to safely and appropriately discharge patients from the hospital is placing patients at risk, not to mention the increase costs to hospitals, providers, and insurers. Many acknowledge that the hospital discharge is non-standardized, unsystematic, and fragmented process (Anthony, Chetty, Kartha, McKenna, DePaoli, & Jack, 2005; Minott, 2008). Furthermore, the inefficiencies in the discharge planning process have also shown to have life-threatening implications, especially in association with Adverse Drug Events (ADEs) (Forster, Murff, Peterson, et al., 2003). It has also been recognized that ADEs are also a result of medication non adherence (----) and medication non adherence may be correlated to a harried discharge process …show more content…
Vincent Morgan, R.N., Discharge Coordinator at Baptist Health Medical Center of Little Rock, Arkansas, states that there are various reasons delays occur. He has identified that a lot of times it may be due to patients not having the money to pay for their prescriptions or their co-pays, and in some instances patient’s report that they won’t be able to pick up their medications until their next pay check, which accounts for not filling necessary prescriptions after being discharged from the hospital (personal communication, September 20, 2016). Furthermore, analysis has determined that roughly 60% of ADEs after discharge can be mitigated through the involvement of a pharmacist at the time of discharge (Visram, Carr, & Petrongolo, 2016). According to Colleen McHorney, PhD, Senior Director of Outcomes Research, Merck & Co., Inc., “thus far the most effective way to improve patient outcomes and reduce readmissions to the hospital is by ensuring patients understand the importance of their medications and any potential side effects, and that they have access to the medications”( cited by Cardinal Health,2013). Even though not all readmissions rates can be completely eliminated, it is prudent that all medical professionals uphold the standard of care and put forth additional efforts to minimize medical errors and
Failure to safely and appropriately discharge patients from the hospital is placing patients at risk, not to mention the increase costs to hospitals, providers, and insurers. Many acknowledge that the hospital discharge is non-standardized, unsystematic, and fragmented process (Anthony, Chetty, Kartha, McKenna, DePaoli, & Jack, 2005; Minott, 2008). Furthermore, the inefficiencies in the discharge planning process have also shown to have life-threatening implications, especially in association with Adverse Drug Events (ADEs) (Forster, Murff, Peterson, et al., 2003). It has also been recognized that ADEs are also a result of medication non adherence (----) and medication non adherence may be correlated to a harried discharge process …show more content…
Vincent Morgan, R.N., Discharge Coordinator at Baptist Health Medical Center of Little Rock, Arkansas, states that there are various reasons delays occur. He has identified that a lot of times it may be due to patients not having the money to pay for their prescriptions or their co-pays, and in some instances patient’s report that they won’t be able to pick up their medications until their next pay check, which accounts for not filling necessary prescriptions after being discharged from the hospital (personal communication, September 20, 2016). Furthermore, analysis has determined that roughly 60% of ADEs after discharge can be mitigated through the involvement of a pharmacist at the time of discharge (Visram, Carr, & Petrongolo, 2016). According to Colleen McHorney, PhD, Senior Director of Outcomes Research, Merck & Co., Inc., “thus far the most effective way to improve patient outcomes and reduce readmissions to the hospital is by ensuring patients understand the importance of their medications and any potential side effects, and that they have access to the medications”( cited by Cardinal Health,2013). Even though not all readmissions rates can be completely eliminated, it is prudent that all medical professionals uphold the standard of care and put forth additional efforts to minimize medical errors and