P. Peters et al., THE QUALITY OF THE DISCHARGE PLANNING PROCESS - THE EFFECT OF A LIAISON NURSE, International journal for quality in health care, 9(4), 1997, pp. 283-287
A project employing a liaison nurse has been started in the Dutch Zaan
dam region. The liaison project win focus on the experience of problem
s in preparing for hospital discharge and on continuity between hospit
al and home care. This article discusses the effect of the liaison nur
se on the quality of the discharge planning process. The investigation
included a pre-test and a main test for which data were collected usi
ng questionnaires. These were sent to patients who had received after-
care on being discharged from hospital. To measure the quality of the
discharge process and after-care continuity, use was made of explicit
quality criteria, targeting discharge planning. The results show that
discharge planning in hospitals has improved. No significant improveme
nt was detected with respect to continuity of care. It may be conclude
d that the discharge process requires more attention. The quality crit
eria used here could function as points of departure. (C) 1997 Elsevie
r Science Ltd.