Addressing postdischarge adverse events: a neglected area.

Area of Science:

• Medical Safety
• Internal Medicine
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Postdischarge safety remains an under-researched area in healthcare.
• Recent studies indicate a significant incidence of adverse events in patients discharged from general internal medicine services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the existing literature on postdischarge adverse events.
• To identify key areas for improving patient safety after hospital discharge.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, Cochrane databases, and reference lists.
• The search covered articles published from 1966 through May 2007.

Main Results:

• Patient safety research has predominantly focused on hospitalized patients, with limited data on postdischarge adverse events.
• Only two North American studies have quantified the incidence of all postdischarge adverse events.
• Key areas for improvement include transitional care, electronic health record utilization, medication reconciliation, test result follow-up, and adverse event screening.

Conclusions:

• Evidence suggests approximately 20% of internal medicine patients face adverse events post-discharge from North American hospitals.
• Postdischarge adverse events represent a significant patient safety concern requiring expert attention.