SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Leaving So Soon? Sharing Information on Hospital Medicine Discharge Readiness

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This study examined how different hospital care team members communicate about discharge readiness and plan patient discharges. The authors interviewed 36 clinicians across six disciplines and mapped their discharge workflows to identify communication patterns, use of electronic health record (EHR) tools, and opportunities to improve coordination.<br /><br />The main finding was that discharge planning relied heavily on direct communication. Most participants used messages, paging, or verbal discussions, and many also reviewed notes or received information from patients and families. However, use of EHR-based discharge tools, such as the Estimated Discharge Date, varied widely by role. Hospitalists and nurses used these tools less often than other team members, while non-physician, non-nurse staff used them more frequently.<br /><br />Nurses reported the most problems with communication. In many cases, they learned about a discharge plan from the patient before being informed by the care team. The study also found that logistical barriers limited multidisciplinary rounds mostly to physicians, case managers, and social workers, reducing broader team participation.<br /><br />Overall, the authors concluded that discharge communication differs across disciplines and is not yet standardized. They suggest that creating a more consistent, shared discharge workflow could improve information sharing, reduce inefficiencies, and potentially shorten length of stay while improving hospital capacity and patient satisfaction.

Asset Subtitle

Brandon S. Scott

Meta Tag

Author List Armond Esmaili, Brandon S. Scott, Michelle S. Mourad

Category Research

Concept Interdisciplinary Alignment

Concept Communication

Concept Discharge Planning

Concept Discharge Readiness

Concept Communication Gap

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization University of California San Francisco

Presenting Author Brandon S. Scott

Track Transitions of Care

Keywords

discharge planning

hospital communication

care coordination

electronic health record

EHR tools

patient discharge

multidisciplinary rounds

nurse communication

estimated discharge date

hospital workflow

Interdisciplinary Alignment

Communication

Discharge Planning

Discharge Readiness

Communication Gap