GO LIVE: August 5, 2021
Starting August 5, 2021, the Adult and Pediatric Discharge Plans will expire 45 days from the date they are planned, if not initiated.
S - Discharge Plans from prior admissions are inadvertently being activated on a patient’s current encounter. Patients can be sent home with inaccurate discharge information.
B – Discharge Plans are placed on admission by the provider or nurse.
A - Patient is discharged and discharge plan is not initiated. This leaves the plan in a “planned” state for 365 days from the date it was originally ordered. If the patient readmits to the hospital within this time frame, the “old” discharge plan is active on the chart. This can lead to staff documenting on and initiating the discharge plan from the previous encounter instead of the new encounter’s discharge plan.
R – Technical Suggestion, shorten the plans expiration criteria from 365 days to 45 days. After the 45 days have passed the EHR system will automatically void the old discharge plan. The only identified risk associated with this recommendation is for patients who stay longer than 45 days. Their discharge plan will be discontinued by the system prior to their discharge, at which time the nurse/provider will need to re-order the discharge plan.
