Why they remain: causes for delay in leaving hospital among discharged patients

Authors

  • Fabio Yoshito Ajimura Universidade de São Paulo.
  • Ana Maria Malik Universidade de São Paulo.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22421/15177130-2016v17n2p134

Keywords:

Convalescent Hospitals, Bed occupancy, Discharge planning, Patient discharge.

Abstract

Discharged patients that remain in the hospital have become a frequent problem in hospitals all over the world. This study aims to identify the more common reasons for this unnecessary stay, which leads to the inappropriate use of hospital beds, and to compare them to the international literature. This is a descriptive study about the delays of discharged patients in leaving a university long stay public hospital at the Metropolitan Area of São Paulo, using data from the hospital medical records provided by the Hospital Records Service. The most frequent reasons were problems related to transportation from the hospital to the patients´ homes, support from the healthcare network, patients and family resistance to the discharge, home adequacy, wait for pending documents, and training of family members and caregivers. Specificities of the Brazilian reality were identified compared to the international bibliography, showing the need for solutions aimed at each reality to achieve better service utilization.

Author Biographies

Fabio Yoshito Ajimura, Universidade de São Paulo.

Master in Business Administration, director of the Program of Advanced Studies in Hospital Administration and Health Systems - PROAHSA / HCFMUSP.

Ana Maria Malik, Universidade de São Paulo.

Master in Administration, PhD in Preventive Medicine, Full Professor at EAESP FGV, Adjunct Director of the Advanced Studies Program in Hospital Administration and Health Systems - PROAHSA / HCFMUSP.

Published

2016-12-29

How to Cite

1.
Ajimura FY, Malik AM. Why they remain: causes for delay in leaving hospital among discharged patients. Espac. Saude [Internet]. 2016 Dec. 29 [cited 2024 Jul. 3];17(2):134-42. Available from: https://espacoparasaude.fpp.edu.br/index.php/espacosaude/article/view/294

Issue

Section

Artigos