title: Making effective use of predicted discharge dates to reduce the length of stay in hospital.
abstract: This article outlines an initiative by nursing staff in the elective orthopaedic department at Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust to improve discharge planning for all patients on the ward. It describes how renewed focus on the predicted discharge date among multidisciplinary teams and patients themselves increased the proportion of patients who went home by or before their target date and reduced the average length of stay.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Llandough, Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust, Wales.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Webber-Maybank
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Luton
mesh_terms: D005544:Forecasting; D005568:Forms and Records Control; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007902:Length of Stay; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000451:nursing / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010351:Patient Discharge; D014852:Wales