Discharge planning in chronic conditions: an evidence-based analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chronically ill people experience frequent changes in health status accompanied by multiple transitions between care settings and care providers. Discharge planning provides support services, follow-up activities, and other interventions that span pre-hospital discharge to post-hospital settings.

Objective

To determine if discharge planning is effective at reducing health resource utilization and improving patient outcomes compared with standard care alone.

Data sources

A standard systematic literature search was conducted for studies published from January 1, 2004, until December 13, 2011.

Review methods

Reports, randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses with 1 month or more of follow-up and limited to specified chronic con

SUBMITTER: McMartin K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3804053 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature