Adverse Events following Discharge from the Hospital

Letters3 February 2004Adverse Events following Discharge from the HospitalBruce Leff, MD and Chad Boult, MDBruce Leff, MDFrom Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21224.Search for more papers by this author and Chad Boult, MDFrom Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21224.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-140-3-200402030-00019 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:The study by Forster and colleagues (1) highlights the serious medical consequences suffered by patients at the hands of a fragmented health care system. It is important to recognize the substantial dangers associated with a single transition from hospital to home. Many patients, especially older, frailer ones, experience transitions in rapid succession as they move through the system from hospital to subacute or skilled nursing facility to home, with or without home care, and back to ambulatory follow-up or no follow-up at all.Ironically, our health care system, built around silos of care, does not appear to ...References1. Forster AJ, Murff HJ, Peterson JF, Gandhi TK, Bates DW. The incidence and severity of adverse events affecting patients after discharge from the hospital. Ann Intern Med. 2003;138:161-7. [PMID: 12558354] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Naylor MD, Brooten D, Campbell R, Jacobsen BS, Mezey MD, Pauly MV, et al . Comprehensive discharge planning and home follow-up of hospitalized elders: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 1999;281:613-20. [PMID: 10029122] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Hansen FR, Poulsen H, Sorensen KH. A model of regular geriatric follow-up by home visits to selected patients discharged from a geriatric ward: a randomized, controlled trial. Aging (Milano). 1995;7:202-6. [PMID: 8547378] MedlineGoogle Scholar4. Townsend J, Piper M, Frank AO, Dyer S, North WR, Meade TW. Reduction in hospital readmission stay of elderly patients by a community based hospital discharge scheme: a randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 1988;297:544-7. [PMID: 2844356] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Rich MW, Beckham V, Wittenberg C, Leven CL, Freedland KE, Carney RM. A multidisciplinary intervention to prevent the readmission of elderly patients with congestive heart failure. N Engl J Med. 1995;333:1190-5. [PMID: 7565975] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Bruce Leff, MD; Chad Boult, MDAffiliations: From Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21224. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoThe Incidence and Severity of Adverse Events Affecting Patients after Discharge from the Hospital Alan J. Forster , Harvey J. Murff , Josh F. Peterson , Tejal K. Gandhi , and David W. Bates Adverse Events following Discharge from the Hospital Matthew M. Medlock , Louis R. Cantilena Jr. , and Michael A. Riel Adverse Events following Discharge from the Hospital Rodney A. Hayward and Timothy P. Hofer Adverse Events following Discharge from the Hospital Alan J. Forster and David W. Bates Adverse Events following Discharge from the Hospital Donald C. Rifas Metrics Cited byPrior Hospitalization and the Risk of Heart Attack in Older Adults: A 12-Year Prospective Study of Medicare BeneficiariesA 12-year prospective study of stroke risk in older Medicare beneficiariesRecent Hospitalization and the Risk of Hip Fracture Among Older Americans 3 February 2004Volume 140, Issue 3Page: 231KeywordsAdverse eventsForecastingHealth careHealth care facilitiesHealth care qualityHospitalsMedical servicesMedicareMotivationPatients ePublished: 3 February 2004 Issue Published: 3 February 2004 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2004 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...