Discharge communication

BACKGROUND: Few randomized trials have evaluated the effect of postdischarge interventions for patients with liver cirrhosis. This study assessed the effects of a postdischarge intervention on readmissions and mortality in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled trial at a specialized liver unit. Adult patients admitted with complications of liver cirrhosis were eligible for inclusion. Participants were allocated 1:1 to standard follow-up or a family-focused nurse-led postdischarge intervention between December 1, 2019, and October 31, 2021...

(1) Background: As part of the Scottish Government's five-year recovery plan to address the backlog in NHS care following the COVID-19 pandemic, community pharmacies in Scotland are planned to provide a Hospital Discharge Medicines Supply and Medicines Reconciliation Service. We aimed to qualitatively explore patients' experiences with this new service. (2) Method: Adult patients (≥18 years age) who consented to participate in the Community Pharmacy Hospital Discharge and Medicines Reconciliation Service were invited for an interview within 21 days of discharge from hospital...

We analyzed hospital discharge records of patients with coccidioidomycosis-related codes from the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, Clinical Modification, to estimate the prevalence of hospital visits associated with the disease in Texas, USA. Using Texas Health Care Information Collection data for 2016-2021, we investigated the demographic characteristics and geographic distribution of the affected population, assessed prevalence of hospital visits for coccidioidomycosis, and examined how prevalence varied by demographic and geographic factors...

BACKGROUND: Consumer wearable devices such as wristbands and smartwatches have potential application value in communicable disease surveillance. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the ability of wearable devices to monitor COVID-19 patients of varying severity. METHODS: COVID-19 patients with mobile phones supporting wearable device applications were selected from Dalian Sixth People Hospital. Physiological parameters from the wearable devices and electronic questionnaires were collected from the device wearing until 14 days post-discharge...

Survivors of critical illness may present physical, psychological, or cognitive symptoms after hospital discharge, encompassed within what is known as post-intensive care syndrome. These alterations result from both the critical illness itself and the medical interventions surrounding it. For its prevention, the implementation of the ABCDEF bundle (Assess/treat pain, Breathing/awakening trials, Choice of sedatives, Delirium reduction, Early mobility and exercise, Family) has been proposed, along with additional strategies grouped under the acronym GHIRN (Good communication, Handout materials, Redefined ICU architectural design, Respirator, Nutrition)...

Chagas disease (CD) is a neglected parasitic zoonotic disease that affects over 6 million people worldwide. We conducted a retrospective study to analyze the spatiotemporal trends and risk factors for hospitalization rates of CD with cardiac and digestive diagnoses in Chile. We used the Mann-Kendall analysis for temporal trends, Global Moran's Index, and Local Indicators of Spatial Association to identify spatial autocorrelation, and regression models to determine the risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality and surgical intervention...

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: We sought to gain an understanding of the patient experience during their hospital stay for COVID-19, and the impact of COVID-19 on quality of life post discharge. BACKGROUND: Symptoms of COVID-19 include a persistent cough, dyspnoea and fatigue. Individuals with comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease have a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 and approximately 20% of those diagnosed with COVID-19 are admitted to hospital. Following discharge from hospital, 40% of patients report a worsened quality of life and up to 87% of those discharged from hospital have experienced 'long COVID'...

BACKGROUND: On average, older patients use five or more medications daily, increasing the risk of adverse drug reactions, interactions, or medication errors. Healthcare sector transitions increase the risk of information loss, misunderstandings, unclear treatment responsibilities, and medication errors. Therefore, it is crucial to identify possible solutions to decrease these risks. Patients, relatives, and healthcare professionals were asked to design the solution they need. METHODS: We conducted a participatory design approach to collect information from patients, relatives, and healthcare professionals...

BACKGROUND: There is a notable variation in the percentage of non-conveyed patients within the ambulance service. Discharging patients at the scene includes a risk of adverse events, and both patients and ambulance clinicians experience the complexity of non-conveyance. Therefore, this study aimed to describe factors influencing the care encounter when care in the ambulance service concludes with non-conveyance. METHOD: A qualitative study design employing the critical incident technique for data collection through individual interviews, and a qualitative analysis based on Fridlund et al...

BACKGROUND: Veterans who need post-acute home health care (HHC) are at risk for adverse outcomes and unmet social needs. Veterans' social needs could be identified and met by community-based HHC clinicians due to their unique perspective from the home environment, acuity of Veterans they serve, and access to Veterans receiving community care. To understand these needs, we explored clinician, Veteran, and care partner perspectives to understand Veterans' social needs during the transition from hospital to home with skilled HHC...

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic overuse at hospital discharge is common, but there is no metric to evaluate hospital performance at this transition of care. We built a risk-adjusted metric for comparing hospitals on their overall post-discharge antibiotic use. METHODS: This was a retrospective study across all acute-care admissions within the Veterans Health Administration during 2018-2021. For patients discharged to home, we collected data on antibiotics and relevant covariates...

BACKGROUND: Discharge from hospital is a critical part of the patient journey, particularly for older patients with multi-morbidity and polypharmacy. General practice has a key role in managing the post-discharge course of patients. A communication intervention for use in General Practice in the immediate post-discharge period has great potential to improve shared decision making, enhancing patient experiences of post-discharge care. AIM: General Practice Management After Transition Events (GP-MATE) aims to produce a tool for older patients and their carers (GP-MATE) which will assist better communication with their general practice about their care after discharge, thereby improving patient safety outcomes...

OBJECTIVE: to assess the efficacy of a Hospital Discharge Transition Plan in the care competence and in adherence to the therapy of dyads comprised by patients with non-communicable chronic diseases and their caregivers. METHOD: a controlled and randomized clinical trial; the sample was comprised by 80 dyads of patients with chronic conditions and their caregivers, randomly allocated as follows: 40 to the control group and another 40 to the intervention group...

BACKGROUND: Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) infections are a major public health problem, necessitating the administration of polymyxin E (colistin) as a last-line antibiotic. Meanwhile, the mortality rate associated with colistin-resistant K. pneumoniae infections is seriously increasing. On the other hand, importance of administration of carbapenems in promoting colistin resistance in K. pneumoniae is unknown. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of K...

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the incidence of delirium and its subtypes in patients admitted to different departments of university hospitals in Latin America. OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of delirium and the frequency of its subtypes, as well as its associated factors, in patients admitted to different departments of a university hospital in Bogotá, Colombia. METHODS: A cohort of patients over 18 years of age admitted to the internal medicine (IM), geriatrics (GU), general surgery (GSU), orthopaedics (OU) and intensive care unit (ICU) services of a university hospital was followed up between January and June 2018...

The present research aimed to document the incidence, clinical signs, haematological, and serum biochemical alterations, as well as electrocardiography and echocardiography findings in 62 buffaloes (selected from a total of 240) infected with Trypanosoma evansi. The study spanned one year, from January 2022 to December 2022. Morphological identification of Trypanosoma evansi was done by the presence of a centrally positioned nucleus with a small sub-terminal kinetoplast at the posterior position through microscopic examination of Giemsa stained peripheral blood smears...

INTRODUCTION: Pre-discharge home assessments by occupational therapists facilitate safe and timely discharge from hospital and are associated with better health outcomes. Digital technology offers the potential to reduce duplication of documentation and improve communication and sharing of home assessment findings. OBJECTIVE: This quality improvement project evaluated time-cost; clinician satisfaction and confidence; and acceptability of the use of a digital approach to home assessments...

BACKGROUND: Dalbavancin has been used off-label to treat invasive bacterial infections in vulnerable populations like people who use drugs (PWUD) because of its broad gram-positive coverage and unique pharmacological properties. This retrospective, multisite study examined clinical outcomes at 90 days in PWUD versus non-PWUD after secondary treatment with dalbavancin for bacteremia, endocarditis, osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, and epidural abscesses. METHODS: Patients at 3 teaching hospitals who received dalbavancin for an invasive infection between March 2016 and May 2022 were included...

BACKGROUND: The discontinuation of "Mother-Baby Friendly" accreditation, coupled with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, has contributed to reduced breastfeeding rates observed in parts of South Africa. Consequently, the Child, Youth and School Health cluster of the National Department of Health, with support from the World Health Organization and United Nations Children's Fund, organised a Mother-Baby Friendly initiative revitalisation workshop. METHODS: Held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on June 29-30, 2022, the workshop brought together local and international breastfeeding promotion experts to engage on issues related to the revitalisation of the Mother-Baby Friendly Initiative...

BACKGROUND: Intersectoral cooperation between physicians in private practice and hospitals is highly relevant for ensuring the quality of medical care. However, the experiences and potential for optimization at this interface from the perspective of physicians in private practice have not yet been systematically investigated. The aim of this questionnaire survey was to record participants' experiences with regard to cooperation with university hospitals and to identify the potential for optimizing intersectoral cooperation...