Identifying Critical Factors in Determining Discharge Readiness from Skilled Home Health: An Interprofessional...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Research

Background:

• Inadequate discharge readiness from skilled home health services poses risks for older adults.
• Standardized criteria for discharge are needed to prevent adverse events.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore interprofessional home health clinician perceptions of factors influencing discharge readiness.
• To identify key considerations for determining safe discharge from skilled home health.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative descriptive study utilizing focus groups and telephone interviews.
• Involved 32 interprofessional clinicians and home visiting physicians.
• Employed qualitative content and thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• Five emergent themes: patient safety, established long-term plan, maximum self-care potential achieved, caregiver availability and willingness, and patient-specific attributes.
• These factors are critical for clinicians assessing discharge readiness.

Conclusions:

• Understanding clinician perspectives is vital for developing effective discharge protocols.
• An evidence-based decision support tool is proposed to standardize discharge assessments.
• This aims to improve patient safety and outcomes for older adults transitioning from home health care.