Improving asthma discharge management in relation to emergency departments: The ADMIRE project.
The present paper describes the process, outcomes and lessons learned from a federally funded, multicentre action research project aimed at improving discharge practices for asthma patients who attend ED and are discharged home. Thirty-two ED participated and worked locally to improve discharge practices using previously published best-practice guidelines. Although they achieved some improvements, major barriers to best-practice discharge outside ED control were identified, including access to GP, hospital policies regarding supply of medications and access to appropriate asthma education. The ED developed some useful tools to assist with improving asthma management that have been compiled as a toolkit and are available online.
Kelly
Anne-Maree
AM
Joseph Epstein Centre for Emergency Medicine Research, Western Health, St Albans, Victoria, Australia. Anne-Maree.Kelly@wh.org.au
Clooney
Megan
M
D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy*; D001315:Australia; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000592:standards*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards