Discharge Planning Advisor Archives – October 1, 2009
October 1, 2009
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Project BOOST has produced early, positive results for involved hospitals
The hospital discharge process is receiving the attention it deserves with a new national project that seeks to improve health care transitions for all adults in the United States. -
Project BOOST's evolution has led to DP changes
Hospitals and health care professionals want to provide patients with safe, effective, quality discharges but often lack the resources necessary to make this process optimal. -
Hospital's discharge process was improved
When hospital leaders decide to participate in Project BOOST (Better Outcomes for Older adults through Safe Transitions), they should prioritize their goals, first selecting some key discharge processes they'd like to improve and then focus resources and attention on those. -
For the best outcomes, consider patients' culture
In an increasingly diverse society, case managers must be aware of the cultural beliefs and practices of the people they serve in order to effectively coordinate their care and help patients or clients adhere to their treatment plan, says Catherine M. Mullahy, RN, BS, CRRN, CCM, president and founder of Mullahy & Associates, a case management training and consulting company. -
Sometimes DP has no great options
Sometimes health care professionals involved in the hospital discharge process have no great options for transitioning patients, particularly when the patient is undocumented and/or uninsured. -
Reduce one-day stays when observation is better
Hospitals sometimes fail to transition patients to the optimal level of care, which can create issues with quality of care and reimbursement. -
Extra diagnostic testing can cost hospitals big
Hospitals are losing large amounts of money on extra and inappropriate diagnostic testing and procedures, as well as outpatient procedures performed in the inpatient setting, because third-party payers frequently are denying the claims.