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Disagreements in discharge planning: a normative phenomenon
J S Abramson1, J Donnelly, M A King
1School of Social Welfare, University at Albany, State University of New York 12222.
Health & Social Work
|February 1, 1993
Summary
Disagreements are common in hospital discharge planning, especially involving family members adjusting to illness. Social workers must accept these conflicts as normal and use a family systems approach for intervention.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Management
- Social Work
- Family Studies
Background:
- Discharge planning is frequently hindered by disagreements among stakeholders.
- Negotiating discharge plans is essential to balance participant needs with regulatory requirements.
- Family members often experience role adjustments during illness crises, leading to decision-making conflicts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the sources of family disagreements in hospital discharge planning.
- To identify implications for social work practice.
- To propose an intervention approach based on family systems theory.
Main Methods:
- Literature review supporting the conceptual formulation of disagreements.
- Analysis of two studies evaluating the incidence of disagreements in discharge planning caseloads.
- Application of a family systems perspective for intervention strategies.
Main Results:
- Disagreements occurred in at least one-third of discharge planning cases studied.
- Most disagreements involved family members, not healthcare professionals.
- Disagreement is a normative phenomenon in discharge planning.
Conclusions:
- Social workers encounter significant disagreements in hospital discharge planning.
- Understanding family dynamics is crucial for effective discharge planning.
- A family systems approach can guide interventions to manage disagreements.