Abstract
An increase in deliveries from 9,000 to over 12,000 per annum necessitated the adoption of an early discharge program at the LAC-USC Med. Ctr. in November 1974. ‘Normal’ mothers/infants were identified by strict protocol and discharged at <48 hrs. instead of ≥72 hrs. This report represents the result of an evaluation study of the program covering the period June 21 to August 31, 1976. Basic demographic prenatal and delivery information was obtained from the hospital discharge and home visit referral forms. Information on patient's safety and satisfaction was obtained from two questionnaires, one completed by patient and visiting nurse between 3rd and 5th postpartum day, and the other by the patient 10 to 14 days postpartum. There were 1,276 early discharge patients representing 47% of deliveries: 810 cases had home visits by a visiting nurse. In the mothers 15% had problems, 2% required emergency room referrals, and 0.25% hospital readmission. In the infants, 16% had problems, 6% required emergency room referrals and 0.9% had hospital readmission. A comparison of 147 patients discharged between 25-36 hrs. with those discharged between 49-60 hrs. postpartum did not reveal any significant difference in problems found at home visit. Eighty-five percent of the patients expressed satisfaction with the program.
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Coffelt, C., Wu, P., Choi, P. et al. 949 EVALUATION OF EARLY POSTPARTUM DISCHARGE PROGRAM IN A LARGE METROPOLITAN HOSPITAL. Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 522 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00955
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00955