Solution Description
Proposed Solution
The discharge period is a difficult time for a patient in time through the healthcare continuum. However, the quality of discharge notice in different hospitals varies among different service providers dealing with the patient leading to a decrease in patient satisfaction with the discharge process (Waniga et al., 2016). What improves patient satisfaction is a patient-centered focus and communication between the patient and the health care provider. The proposed solution to this problem is for hospitals the put in place discharge coordinators, preferably an experienced nurse to coordinate the discharge of patients (Britain, 2010). Research suggests that a discharge coordinator can also support the integration of different professionals, direct planning, and tackling problem associated with discharge notice (Mennuni, et al., 2017). In particular, coordinators have a deeper understanding of the extended relationship with a wider range of care agencies that helps them work in divergent ways (Waring, 2014). A patient whose time is respected is more likely to feel more satisfied with a discharge notice. Patient satisfaction is important in the overall improvement of an organization.
Organization Culture
Organizational culture is perceived as a major impact on patient safety and quality of health care. The introduction of a discharge coordinator would lead to effectively be discharged within a single because they would minimize delays in the discharge process. Therefore, the proposed solution would result in improved quality efficiency of the discharge notice process. Moreover, the value of the discharge coordinator is reflected in the wider health and social care.
Expected Outcomes
It is expected that the introduction of discharge coordinators would lead to increased patient satisfaction with one-day discharge notice. The discharge coordinator has the sole responsibility of planning and ensuring that the entire discharge process is effective. They can overcome the related communication troubles and ensure that discharge notice is given to the patient in the right manner. This would result in improved patient satisfaction with the discharge notice
Method to Achieve Outcomes
The following outline will help achieve the desired outcome.
- Negotiate with the patients as well as caregivers on the expected discharge date, within a day.
- Overcome the limitation of a lack of a standardized method of giving discharge notice.
- Involve the patient in all aspects of their treatment plan.
- Complete the discharge notice for a patient within 24 hours.
- Keep patients records updated.
- Ensure the patient’s condition is stable.
Outcome Impact
Quality Care Improvement: Patient satisfaction is a key indicator of the quality of care as it offers information on the patient’s perspective of behavioral intention. According to Xesfingi, & Vozikis (2016), defining quality improvement from the perspective of the patients offers better value with improved safety, accessibility, and inclusiveness of care. Therefore, increase patient satisfaction with the discharge notice would result in more effective care for the patients.
Patient-Centered Quality Care: Provision of patient-centered care can be complex and time-consuming. However, patient satisfaction with increased patient satisfaction with discharge notice, care of readmission is likely to reduce enabling patient-centered care.
The efficiency of Processes: Patient satisfaction with a discharge notice is likely to affect their perception about the entire discharge process. Therefore, when the satisfaction increases they are more self-understanding to the discharge instructions and key element of the transition care.
Environmental Changes: The outcomes of the proposed solution to the problem would foster an environment of friendliness in the health care facilities.
Professional Expertise: With increased patient satisfaction with discharge notice, healthcare providers feel under pressure to increase their productivity. They feel the need to provide timely care services.
Reference
Waniga, H. M., Gerke, T., Shoemaker, A., Bourgoine, D., & Eamranond, P. (2016). The impact of revised discharge instructions on patient satisfaction. Journal of patient experience, 3(3), 64-68.
Rice, J. D. (2016). A Time To Teach: Would Giving Discharge Instructions Preoperatively Improve Patient Satisfaction In Outpatient Surgery?. Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing, 31(4), e55-e56.
Britain, G. (2010). Ready to Go?: Planning the Discharge and the Transfer of Patients from Hospital and Intermediate Care. Department of Health.
Mennuni, M., Gulizia, M. M., Alunni, G., Francesco Amico, A., Maria Bovenzi, F., Caporale, R., … & Fattirolli, F. (2017). ANMCO position paper: hospital discharge planning: recommendations and standards. European Heart Journal Supplements, 19(suppl_D), D244-D255.
Waring, J., Marshall, F., Bishop, S., Sahota, O., Walker, M., Currie, G., … & Avery, T. (2014). Hospital discharge and patient safety: reviews of the literature. An ethnographic study of knowledge sharing across the boundaries between care processes, services, and organizations: the contributions to ‘safe’ hospital discharge. NIHR Journals Library.
Xesfingi, S., & Vozikis, A. (2016). Patient satisfaction with the healthcare system: assessing the impact of socio-economic and healthcare provision factors. BMC health services research, 16(1), 94.