BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In The Netherlands, many stroke patients stay in the hospital for some time merely waiting for discharge placement. This indicates an inefficient use of hospital resources, as well as a possible deficiency in the quality of care, because hospitals are not adequately equipped to care for these patients. In this study, we tried to quantify this "waiting problem." METHODS: Six hospitals and 29 neurologists participated in this prospective study. The neurologists were asked during weekly interviews to specify for 154 patients the reason for retention in the hospital on a day-to-day basis. The reasons were noted on a list specified by the authors in advance. RESULTS: The mean length of hospital stay was 28 days. On average, there were "hard" medical reasons for 15 days (54%) and "soft" medical reasons for 3 days (10%), whereas the remaining 10 days (36%) were explained by nonmedical reasons (most frequently, waiting for placement in a nursing home). CONCLUSIONS: The length of hospital stay for stroke patients in The Netherlands can be reduced considerably without compromising the quality of care. This might be realized by increasing the capacity of long-term care facilities, improving the efficiency of the discharge procedures, or creating "stroke services."
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In The Netherlands, many strokepatients stay in the hospital for some time merely waiting for discharge placement. This indicates an inefficient use of hospital resources, as well as a possible deficiency in the quality of care, because hospitals are not adequately equipped to care for these patients. In this study, we tried to quantify this "waiting problem." METHODS: Six hospitals and 29 neurologists participated in this prospective study. The neurologists were asked during weekly interviews to specify for 154 patients the reason for retention in the hospital on a day-to-day basis. The reasons were noted on a list specified by the authors in advance. RESULTS: The mean length of hospital stay was 28 days. On average, there were "hard" medical reasons for 15 days (54%) and "soft" medical reasons for 3 days (10%), whereas the remaining 10 days (36%) were explained by nonmedical reasons (most frequently, waiting for placement in a nursing home). CONCLUSIONS: The length of hospital stay for strokepatients in The Netherlands can be reduced considerably without compromising the quality of care. This might be realized by increasing the capacity of long-term care facilities, improving the efficiency of the discharge procedures, or creating "stroke services."
Authors: Leander R Buisman; Siok Swan Tan; Paul J Nederkoorn; Peter J Koudstaal; William K Redekop Journal: Neurology Date: 2015-05-01 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: Se Hee Jung; Kyoung Moo Lee; Si-Woon Park; Min Ho Chun; Han Young Jung; Il-Soo Kim; Se Hyun Kim; Tai Ryoon Han Journal: Ann Rehabil Med Date: 2012-10-31
Authors: Mohammad Yousuf Rathor; Mohammad Fauzi Abdul Rani; A R Jamalludin; M Amran; T C A Shahrin; A Shah Journal: J Res Med Sci Date: 2012-11 Impact factor: 1.852
Authors: Kirsten J E Asmus-Szepesi; Paul L de Vreede; Anna P Nieboer; Jeroen D H van Wijngaarden; Ton J E M Bakker; Ewout W Steyerberg; Johan P Mackenbach Journal: BMC Geriatr Date: 2011-08-03 Impact factor: 3.921
Authors: H Rosendal; C A M Wolters; G H M I Beusmans; L P de Witte; J Boiten; H F J M Crebolder Journal: Int J Integr Care Date: 2002-03-01 Impact factor: 5.120
Authors: Christina L Hammond; Margaret F Phillips; Lorraine L Pinnington; Benedict J Pearson; Apostolos Fakis Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2009-02-27 Impact factor: 2.655