Improving patient care with shorter hospital admissions

Summary Prolonged hospital admissions frequently overshadow the experience of gynaecological cancer patients. In East Kent, we identified obstacles in the inpatient journey through the hospital by performing a patient pathway mapping audit of admissions in May June 2006 and 2007. We achieved substan...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology 2009-08, Vol.29 (6), p.526-528
Main Authors: Schmid, K. J., Tewari, R., Nordin, A. J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cancer surgery
Clinical Audit
Female
Gynecology
Hospital admission
Humans
Inpatient care
inpatient pathway
length of stay
Length of Stay - statistics & numerical data
Obstetrics
Oncology
Oncology Service, Hospital - statistics & numerical data
Patient admissions
Patient Readmission - statistics & numerical data
Retrospective Studies
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Summary:Summary Prolonged hospital admissions frequently overshadow the experience of gynaecological cancer patients. In East Kent, we identified obstacles in the inpatient journey through the hospital by performing a patient pathway mapping audit of admissions in May June 2006 and 2007. We achieved substantial reductions in the length of stay for major gynaecological oncology surgery. The number of the lead consultant's patients with a total duration of admission of no more than 5 days increased from one of 28 in Q1 2006 (3.6%), to 17 of 28 (60.7%) in Q4 2007. Identified problems prolonging the length of stay included admission the day before surgery, prolonged use of i.v. antibiotics and late referrals to social services. Early discharge planning involving staff and patients as active participants has the greatest impact on reduction of duration of hospital admission. A reduction in duration of hospital admissions is associated with an increase in the rate of readmissions.
ISSN:0144-3615
1364-6893
DOI:10.1080/01443610903003183