Sustaining a Cultural Change in the Discharge Process

<p>Hospital readmission rates continue to be increasing at an alarming rate, and have cost billions of dollars in expenditures in the health care system. Recent research shows that these incidents are reflective of the lack of discharge preparation, discharge education, and communication within the health care team. Certain factors have been overlooked, such as patient's health literacy, defragmented delivery of resources, and an ineffective process of teaching. Addressing these factors can help decrease readmissions by improving the discharge practice during hospitalization.</p> <p>The primary focus of this project is on how to implement and maintain a culture change around the discharge process. A re-engineered discharge method will be implemented to better prepare patients before their discharge, and prevent them from coming back to the hospital. The foremost focal point is on improving patient discharge education, communication, and an increased multidisciplinaiy team approach, centering on a patient's cohesive transition from the hospital to then home. These new cultural changes in the patient discharge practice will be measured for sustainability.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Master's Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Nursing

Year

2012

Author dc:creator

• Ferrer, Kareen I.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Eira Klich-Heartt, RN, MSN

• Nursing

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholar.dominican.edu/nursing-masters-theses/65

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholar.dominican.edu:nursing-masters-theses-1064