Related Experiment Videos
Criteria-Led Discharge-Patient Safety and Satisfaction, Length of Stay, and Facilitators for Implementation: A
Liz Lees-Deutsch1, Emma Brangwin, Bridget O'Connell
1Authors Affiliations: Centre for Care Excellence, Coventry University, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry (Mrs Lees-Deutsch); Centre for Healthcare and Community Transformation, Coventry University, Coventry (Mrs Brangwin); Clinical Evidence Based Information Service, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry (Mrs O'Connell); NHS Midlands (Mrs Young); and Centre for Healthcare and Community Transformation, Coventry University, Coventry, West Midlands, United Kingdom (Dr Lewko).
Background:
Delayed patient discharge affects patient safety, care quality, and hospital flow. Criteria-led discharge (CLD) enables appropriately trained health care professionals to discharge selected patients against predefined clinical criteria, potentially improving timeliness.
Purpose:
The purpose of this updated systematic review was to assess outcomes including CLD safety, patient satisfaction, length of stay (LOS), and implementation factors.
Methods:
A systematic review was conducted. CINAHL and Medline were searched from 2018 to 2025.
Results:
Thirteen studies spanning adult and pediatric settings were included. CLD was consistently safe when supported by clear criteria, protocols, and safety-netting; readmission findings were mixed. Most studies reported reduced LOS, earlier discharge, and improved flow. Evidence on patient satisfaction was limited. Key facilitators included staff training, organizational support, and integration of CLD into routine processes.
Conclusion:
CLD is a safe intervention that improves discharge efficiency and LOS with growing applicability across nonelective pathways and potential scalability.
Related Concept Videos
Discharge Summary Forms
Here's a detailed look at the key components and guidelines for preparing a discharge summary:
Documentation in Long-Term and Home Healthcare Setting
Long-Term Care Facilities
Methods of Documentation VI: Case Management Model
For example, a patient with a chronic illness...
Planning Nursing Care I
Methods of Documentation III: PIE
Nursing Clinical Information System
A Nursing Clinical Information System (NCIS) is a specialized type of healthcare information system tailored to meet the unique needs of nursing practice. It incorporates the principles of nursing informatics to streamline information management and improve the quality of care delivery.
Critical attributes of NCIS include: