Title

Improving patient transitions from hospital to home: Practical advice from nurses

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2017

Abstract

SHARING INSIGHT from one practice area to another may help to improve patient outcomes and decrease readmissions. To gather some advice, the authors of this article called on a handful of colleagues with many years of home health experience. They brainstormed helpful pearls about the needs of home health patients to share with those caring for them in the acute care setting.

Nurses who haven't worked within the highly regulated home health arena may have many misconceptions about the rules and standards of practice. Understanding regulatory requirements, assessing for key information about how the patient will manage at home, and establishing expectations can contribute to a successful transition from the hospital to the home health setting. Ultimately, decreasing readmissions for patients with chronic disease would be a win for all levels of healthcare as it moves toward a value-based arena focused on access, quality, and cost of care.

This article describes the challenges of home healthcare, the regulatory environment, and practical information to help patients make a smooth and safe transition from an acute care setting to home health.

Comments

Elliott, B., & DeAngelis, M. (2017). Improving patient transitions from hospital to home: Practical advice from nurses. Nursing, 47(11), 58–62. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NURSE.0000525985.72817.16

Link to Full Text

  Contact Author

Share

COinS