Discharge planning, nursing home placement, and the Internet.
BACKGROUND
Effective discharge planning and well-coordinated case management related to nursing home (NH) placement are key services in acute-care hospitals.


OBJECTIVE
(1) identify the individuals and important factors involved in the discharge planning process; (2) describe the types/sources of information used by discharge planners to recommend specific nursing homes for patients and families; and (3) determine which methods are used to evaluate the quality of US nursing homes (NHs).


METHODS
Descriptive study, with a convenience sample of 41 discharge planners and case managers from California acute-care hospitals.


RESULTS
This study found that patients, families, friends, and physicians are all involved in the discharge planning process along with discharge planners and/or case managers. Discharge planners/case managers were generally concerned about NH bed availability, geographic location, and financial considerations. Although the discharge planners and case managers were able to articulate important indicators of quality in NHs, such information was not routinely considered during discharge planning activities.


CONCLUSIONS
Discharge planners and case managers need to play a more central role in the decision-making process related to the selection of a NH, especially because decisions are time-limited and can benefit from a well-planned discharge planning program that uses a variety of data on quality and costs. The widespread use of Internet-based information sources can be expanded to aid this process.
Collier
Eric J
EJ
Department of Social and Behavorial Sciences, School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco 94118, USA. ecollier@itsa.ucsf.edu
Harrington
Charlene
C
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D002140:California; D019090:Case Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D003197:Computer Literacy; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008389:Marketing of Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010351:Patient Discharge; D018579:Patient Selection; D024382:Professional Role; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires