Implementation Requirements for Patient Discharge Planning in Health System A qualitative study in Iran

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Effective discharge planning plays a vital role incare continuity and integrated care. Identifying and providinginfrastructures for discharge planning can reduce avoidablehospital readmissions and finally lead to improvement of quality ofcare. The current study aimed to identify the requirements ofdischarge planning from the perspective of professionals in thehealth system of Iran.METHODS: For the purposes of this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews and sessions of focus group discussions withexperts in the field were conducted. The data were analyzed usinga thematic and framework analyses method. The study populationwas 51 participants including health policy makers, hospital andhealth managers, faculty members, nurses, practitioners,community medicine specialists and other professionals of theMinistry of Health andMedical Education (MOHME).RESULTS: According to the control knobs (health reforms levels),recruitments of effective hospital discharge planning were dividedinto four areas, behavior (ofpolicy makers, service providers,recipients services), organization, payment and financing andregulation (themes), in which there were 3, 7, 2 and 3 sub-themesrespectively. Based on the findings of the interviews, they werecategorized into the following main themes: behavior (policymakers, providers and patients), organizational change, financingand payment system and rules and regulations.CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of the present study, itappears to be essential for health managers and policy makers topay attention to essential requirements of effective dischargeplanning.