title: A Health Informatics Approach to Understanding the Discharge Process.
abstract: This study characterises the inpatient discharge process for medical patients. Inpatient discharge represents a highly complex, distinct process at the point of transition to community care. It is poorly understood. Data were collected to assess the discharge patterns of 3386 patients admitted to a tertiary referral centre over a 9 day period. Individual patient parameters were extracted from an Electronic Patient Record and analysed for a random stratified sample of (n=150) with 12 months follow-up. Medical discharges represent 37% of non-elective discharges. 36% fewer medical discharges occurred at weekends (p&lt;0.01), patients discharged at weekends were less complex. 63% of discharges had follow up plans. GP follow up was planned for 61% of single admissions compared to 32% of patients who subsequently were readmitted. Health informatics approaches are critical to improving understanding, quality and efficiency of the discharge process.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Digital Healthcare, University of Warwick, Coventry, England.
authors.forename: Timothy David
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Robbins
authors.affiliation: Institute of Digital Healthcare, University of Warwick, Coventry, England.
authors.forename: Theodoros N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Arvanitis
authors.affiliation: University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, England.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stein
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008297:Male; D059065:Medication Reconciliation / Q000592:standards; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000458:organization & administration; D013997:Time Factors