title: Shortened lengths of stay: ensuring continuity of care for mothers and babies.
abstract: Hospital discharge on the day after an uncomplicated vaginal delivery may be appropriate if clinical criteria are used for the selection of patients and post-discharge follow-up plans are in place. To ensure safety for these patients, Advocate Health Care developed a mother/baby philosophy statement, guidelines for maternal and infant discharge in less than 48 hours, and an algorithm to assure that appropriate follow-up care takes place after discharge. To evaluate the Mother/Baby Home Transition Program, home health follow up, readmission rates, and sentinel events were tracked. Most home health visits occurred within 48 hours. Infant readmission rates ranged from 1.1-2.6%, whereas maternal readmission rates ranged from 0-0.52%. Three sentinel events in 1996 and three in 1997 required readmissions to an ICU. Data continue to be monitored and shared monthly with clinical leaders.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Quality Improvement, Advocate Health Care, Oak Brook, IL 60523, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Welsh
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ludwig-Beymer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000359:Aftercare / Q000458:organization & administration; D000465:Algorithms; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003663:Decision Trees; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007902:Length of Stay; D016389:Maternal-Child Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000592:standards*; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015397:Program Evaluation