FOLLOW-UP EVALUATION OF DISCHARGE PLANNING BY SOCIAL-WORKERS IN AN ACUTE-CARE MEDICAL-CENTER IN ISRAEL

This paper describes the outcomes of a study in which an early and com prehensive discharge planning protocol was used by social workers in a n acute-care center in Israel. Comparison patients received standard s ocial work services provided by the department. Telephone follow-up in terviews were conducted at 3-weeks and 2-months intervals post dischar ge. The expected outcomes of reduced rates of emergency room visits an d readmissions, or greater satisfaction with health services were not achieved. Rather, the study group patients had significantly higher ra tes of emergency room visits, and tended to be less satisfied with dis charge planning and significantly less satisfied with post-hospital he alth services. No differences in readmission rates were observed. The study patients were more likely to be discharged to a home-care progra m and to have received such services or still be in the LTC institutio ns to which they had been referred at follow-ups. The difference in ra te of emergency room visits between the two groups decreased when cont rolling for type of service and for satisfaction in a regression model . Implications for social work practice are discussed.