Discharging patients efficiently and safely, while providing continuity of care
Achieving safe and timely discharge or transfer from hospital can be complicated, but has a significant impact on the effectiveness, cost and efficiency of care. Since April 2010, acute trusts are required to provide a discharge summary to a patient’s GP within 24 hours of discharge.
Market evidence indicates many are still struggling to achieve this quality level. In turn, across the UK 7% of inpatients are readmitted to hospital within 28 days. Readmissions cost the NHS c.£1.5bn per year[1], and a new penalty for 30-day avoidable readmissions could impact around 6% of hospitals’ income.
Efficient and safe patient discharge could reduce readmission rates, ensure better quality of care and ensure that patients are only discharged at the right time with the right support and information. Unfortunately, surveys find that one in six GPs say[2] that patient safety is being put at risk because of poor discharge information. Avoiding late or inaccurate discharge summaries – and improving patient care – relies on accurate electronic records and collaboration between hospitals and local GPs.
Challenges for clinicians:
- 70% of GPs report that discharge information is late, incomplete or both[3]
- Absent or incomplete data on medication changes
- Premature discharge can leave patients with unmet needs, poorly prepared for home and with an increased chance of readmission
- Protracted length of stay increases the risk of infection and pressure on acute resources
What they want:
- Safe, effective discharge that reduces likelihood of unplanned readmission
- Full discharge data provided, including medications, to enable smooth transition to primary and community care
How Microsoft Amalga can help
To enable the accurate creation and distribution of discharge information, Amalga offers powerful Discharge Summary functionality, aggregating data in near real-time to pre-populate electronic forms ready for discharge. These forms and automated alerts flag patients at risk of readmission while still in the hospital; automate reporting against compliance targets; can be tailored for particular departments and roles; and incorporate dashboards of performance for consultants and management.
The discharge functionality of Amalga comprises:
Features to enable the Discharge Summary to contain at a minimum:
- GP details, patient details, admission records
- Clinical summary (diagnostics, tests, treatments, medication provided and medication changes)
- Treatment plan, advice provided, patient concerns, results pending
- Signature of person completing the discharge summary
- System prompts to influence clinicians’ behaviour, ensuring that best-practice in discharge is followed
- Dashboards, including links to populate bed management displays to aid ward management and patient flow
- Link to admission systems to enable immediate discharge planning and manage re-admissions
Benefits for NHS trusts and hospitals
- Promote overall reduction in incidence of readmissions
- Help reduce impact of 30-day penalty on trust income
- Identify root causes of multiple readmissions more easily
- Efficient use and allocation of existing capacity
- Strengthened discharge process and reduced operational and patient risk
- Easy-to-use, powerful dashboards for accurate and timely reporting and analysis
Benefits for GPs
- Enable more accurate records of medication and treatment
- Ability to make more informed decisions about treatment in the community
- Help improve patient care
[1] based on 2009 figures, Dr Foster
[2] NHS Alliance data, June 2010
[3] ibid
