A Multidisciplinary Approach to Improving the Pediatric Discharge Process

Background: A collaborative and multidisciplinary shared responsibility with providing discharge information to pediatric patients/families can support successful reassimilation to life posthospitalization. Problem: An analysis of the current discharge process at an urban pediatric hospital identified variations in discharge practices and instructions. Approach: A multidisciplinary taskforce used the Plan-Do-Study-Act methodology to standardize the discharge process including creating a discharge template, adopting a new education platform, enhancing the electronic health record, and implementing strategies to improve discharge. Outcomes: There was a reduction in 7-day readmission rate from preintervention 4.58 to postintervention for 4 consecutive quarters of 3.92, 4.20, 3.44, and 3.41, respectively. Percentile ranking and top box scores of the patient satisfaction measure of discharge preparation increased from 12th-62nd to 65th-95th percentile postimplementation and 81% to 88%, respectively. Conclusions: A local improvement initiative related to standardization of the discharge process resulted in a reduction in 7-day readmission rate and improved patient satisfaction scores.