Medication discharge planning for the elderly

The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of medication discharge planning for the elderly in relationship to readmission rates to the hospital. Registered nurses were surveyed regarding their practice of medication discharge planning. The study group consisted of 102 medical records for patients 65 years of age and over with congestive heart failure who had been discharged to their homes on one or more medications. A chi-square test showed a significant relationship existed between medication discharge planning and readmission. Patients who received instructions before discharge were less likely to be readmitted.