Co‐ordination of the discharge planning process in critical care

Abstract

If discharge planning practices are to be changed with the introduction of new discharge planning models in the critical care environment then it is important not only to know current practice but also the perceptions of critical care nurses in terms of who they believe should co-ordinate the discharge planning process.

Barriers to effective discharge planning: a qualitative study investigating the perspectives of frontline healthcare professionals

“…This is assessed and documented, communicated to the patient and carer, and reviewed on a daily basis [29]. A clear role of each member of the healthcare team in relation to discharge planning is beneficial to patients as well [33]. Moreover, participants suggested having a standard discharge program covering all patients who have high-risk readmission rate.…”

Intensive care readmission: A contemporary review of the literature

“…Patients admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICU) are of the highest acuity, requiring management with life support technologies and aggressive interventions to sustain life and progress towards a clinically stable condition (Watts et al, 2007). The demand for intensive care services is escalating worldwide and being driven by increasingly sophisticated technology, increasing numbers of older patients with comorbidities and increased consumer expectations (Williams et al, 2010a).…”

Identifying intensive care unit discharge planning tools: protocol for a scoping review

“…6 A transition of care occurs each time a patient is referred to a specialist by their family doctor, assigned a new nurse during hospital shift change or discharged from hospital. Among these, patient transfers from the intensive care unit (ICU) to a medical or surgical hospital ward are likely of particularly high risk owing to the number, complexity and acuity of the medical conditions that characterise this patient group26–29; the large ‘voltage’ drop in available resources when patients move from the ICU, where medical care is intensive and resources are rich, to ward environments, where patients typically receive much less intensive monitoring and patient care26; the multitude of communication barriers that providers often face during interspecialty and multidisciplinary handoffs30; the lack of standardisation in patient transfer processes overall; and, in particular, the lack of standardised written and/or electronic tools to facilitate an optimal transfer process 28…”

“…Patients admitted to the ICU are of the highest acuity requiring management with life support technologies and aggressive interventions to sustain life and progress towards a clinically stabilised condition 28. Approximately 1 in 10 patients admitted to an acute care facility is admitted to an ICU 31.…”