Delayed discharges for medical and surgical patients in an acute care hospital.

A study of social work-coordinated discharges from medical and surgical units at a 387-bed tertiary care hospital in Seattle, Washington examines social, medical and organizational factors associated with overstays. Social and medical variables included an absence of social supports, multiple diagnoses, and patient/family decision-making problems. Though organizational factors within and outside the hospital were identified, the most frequent systems delay was due to lack of post-hospital beds.