Barriers in Transitioning Patients With Severe Obesity From Hospitals to Nursing Homes

This cross-sectional, descriptive study explored perspectives of discharge planners regarding transitions of hospitalized patients who are severely obese seeking discharge to a nursing home. Attention has been focused on care transitions regarding high hospital readmission rates, yet specific needs...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Western journal of nursing research 2017-08, Vol.39 (8), p.1151-1168
Main Authors: Bradway, Christine, Felix, Holly C., Whitfield, Tonya, Li, Xiaocong
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arkansas
Barriers
Cross-Sectional Studies
Health care
Health care delivery
Home health care
Hospitals
Hospitals - statistics & numerical data
Humans
Nursing
Nursing homes
Nursing Homes - manpower
Nursing Homes - statistics & numerical data
Obesity
Obesity, Morbid - nursing
Patient Discharge - statistics & numerical data
Pennsylvania
Readmission
Response rates
Staffing
Surveys and Questionnaires
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Description
Summary:This cross-sectional, descriptive study explored perspectives of discharge planners regarding transitions of hospitalized patients who are severely obese seeking discharge to a nursing home. Attention has been focused on care transitions regarding high hospital readmission rates, yet specific needs of patients who are severely obese have been largely overlooked. Ninety-seven (response rate 39.8%) discharge planners returned surveys addressing frequency of, and issues encountered when, arranging placements. Community and hospital characteristics were also collected. One third of the respondents from Pennsylvania and Arkansas reported inability to transfer patients; barriers included reimbursement, staffing, and equipment. Respondents perceiving nursing homes to have equipment concerns were nearly 7 times more likely to report patient size as a barrier (p = .001). Given increasing obesity rates, health care delivery systems must be prepared to provide necessary resources and all levels of care, including transitions for hospitalized patients who are severely obese needing nursing home care post-discharge.
ISSN:0193-9459
1552-8456
DOI:10.1177/0193945916683682