Social Work Admission Assessment Tool for identifying patients in need of comprehensive social work evaluation.
Early identification of patients who need a social work evaluation is integral to effective discharge planning. This article describes the development and application of the Social Work Admission Assessment Tool (SWAAT), a six-item scale that identifies patients with complicated discharge needs who require a social work evaluation. It addresses ambulation, mental status, living situation, current social services, self-perceived need for additional services, and need for assistance in going home. Based on their scores, patients are categorized as having low, intermediate, or high need. A greater proportion of high-need patients were discharged with services and had prolonged hospitalizations (p = .0001). The SWAAT is a comprehensive needs assessment tool that may facilitate discharge planning and improve quality of care.
Division of General Internal Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10021, USA. cboutin@med.cornell.edu
Carla
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Boutin-Foster
Sona
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Euster
Yvette
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Athena
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BeLue
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Kline
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Charlson
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City; D010351:Patient Discharge; D012947:Social Work