title: Length of hospital stay after percutaneous coronary interventions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) length of hospital stay (LOHS) is one of the key modifiers of hospital cost and quality assessment. Commencing 2000, the cardiovascular services at our institution engaged in a continuous quality improvement program to reduce post-PCI LOHS.
  
  
  METHODS
  All PCI patients were screened for potential early discharge. An expedited discharge protocol was applied to all suitable patients. Length of hospital stay and other outcomes were monitored daily. Data were compiled and reported monthly and quarterly by an independent chart review and data analysis team.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over the study period, PCI volume increased 4-fold. Annually, 61.8% to 78.4% of the patients were rendered suitable for abbreviated LOHS. Timely discharge of suitable candidates gradually improved from 77.6% (n = 116) discharged within 48 hours in 2000 to 95% (n = 480) discharged within 30 hours in 2006.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With the appropriate continuous quality improvement program, 30-hour post-PCI discharge is feasible in more than 95% of suitable cases.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital and University of Medicine and Dentistry, Newark, New Jersey, USA. kalusked@umdnj.edu
authors.forename: Edo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaluski
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alfano
authors.forename: Preet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Randhawa
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Palmaro
authors.forename: Pat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dolny-Korasick
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klapholz
mesh_terms: D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019090:Case Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D017046:Cost Savings; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009515:New Jersey; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000451:nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013997:Time Factors; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*