Early postpartum discharge: implications for HMOs

Early postpartum discharge, defined as discharge of the postpartum mother and newborn infant from the hospital 12-24 hours after delivery, has been shown to be a safe, well-accepted, economical alternative to the traditional hospital stay. Because of consumer pressure to treat pregnancy and birth as a healthy rather than an illness state, the current trend is toward decreased medical intervention and increased self-care for the postpartum mother and infant. Many HMOs have instituted such programs, and others may want to consider this consumer preference and implement early postpartum discharge programs to increase consumer satisfaction and, at the same time, decrease health care costs. This literature review summarizes various early discharge programs including preadmission criteria, early discharge criteria, procedures, complications, consumer satisfaction, staff training, and cost effectiveness.