Researchers performed an intervention at two medical units that are part of an urban academic medical center. Before the intervention both units had DBN rates of less than 7 percent.
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The intervention consisted on a daily checklist, a website to enhance communication, afternoon rounds to identify DBN patients for the next day, daily feedback on DBN rates, rewards for success and real-time case review.
After eight months the DBN percentage increased to 38 percent, with the average discharge time between the units moving 1 hour and 31 minutes earlier in the day.
Researchers also recorded small decreases in length of stay and the 30-day readmission rate; more work is needed to understand the relationship between earlier discharge and outcome-of-care metrics, according to the study.
