Many patients in Emergency Departments are being discharged without a clear understanding of what the discharge instructions entail. This can lead to re-admissions and poorer outcomes with regards to patient care and follow up.
Bureau of Health Information report (2018)
- 65 – 81% (depending on self reported health status) of patients thought ED health professionals explain things in a way they could understand
- 86% of patients thought that during their visit to the ED, the right amount of information about their condition or treatment was given to them
- 76% of patients thought that an ED health professional explained the test, X-ray or scan results in a way that they could understand
- 60% of patients thought that an ED health professional told them about what signs or symptoms to watch out for after they went home.
How is YOUR department is performing: bhi.nsw.gov.au/healthcare_observer
Choose “Patient survey data” > Emergency department patients > Communication & information > Hospital > Select your hospital > Submit
Greenwald Journal of Patient Safety. 2007
Adverse events occur in approximately 1 in 5 discharges that lead to preventable hospital use, resulting in extraordinarily high and unnecessary healthcare costs.
arcmypatient.com 