title: Early discharge study for premature infants: singapore general hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  At Singapore General Hospital, approximately 240 infants of the 1500 deliveries per annum are delivered preterm, many of very low birth weight-median of 1210 g-often have extended hospital stays, even after they are declared medically fit.
  
  
  METHODS
  To better understand the discharge patterns of the preterm infants in the department, a team of two neonatologists and two nurses performed a retrospective review of 36 premature infants. The underlying causes leading to and the root causes of discharge delays were identified as: Required goal weight of 2 kg, even when medically fitDelivery of discharge plan to parents delayedDischarge planning delayedNo ownership in discharge planning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The length of hospital stay was reduced 59.8%, primarily by improved discharge planning, revised guidelines (mean discharge at 1915 g), and nurses' active preparation of parents psychologically and mentally for care of their babies at home.
authors.forename: Yeo Cheo
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lian
authors.forename: Selina Ho Kah
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ying
authors.forename: Cheong Chiu
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Tay Yih
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Yann