“By following the approaches set out in this guideline we can all work to improve patient outcomes, reduce harm and enhance the efficiency and safety of the health service,” according to Dr Mike O’Connor, HSE National Clinical and Group Lead, Acutes, following the launch of a new guideline from the HSE Patient Flow Academy aimed at helping hospitals reduce unnecessary lengths of stay.
Keeping hospital stays shorter, where appropriate, can help patients recover faster while reducing the risk of complications such as infections, falls, reduced mobility and loss of independence.
The Length of Stay Optimisation Guideline has been developed to support healthcare staff across acute and community services in improving patient flow and ensuring patients are discharged safely and as early as possible.
The guideline is the first produced by the HSE Patient Flow Academy following consultation with an expert review group and sets out practical steps hospitals can take to improve the way care is coordinated from admission through to discharge.
Among the key recommendations are early senior clinical review, daily communication between teams and beginning discharge planning as soon as a patient is admitted.
Dr O’Connor further outlined how “planning discharge early is important and that’s about setting the Clinical Criteria for Discharge and the Predicted Discharge Date.”
The guidance also encourages the use of whiteboards, board rounds and daily updates to help teams stay aligned and identify delays quickly.
Dr O’Connor also noted how prolonged hospital stays can have a significant impact on patients and place additional pressure on the health service: “Addressing unnecessary length of stay is essential for patient safety, harm reduction, and the prevention of disability, while also helping to manage healthcare costs and resource pressures,” he said.
Damian McGovern, Chief Operating Officer at Cork University Hospital, described the guideline as practical and easy to use: “The guidance is very practical and helpful in terms of outlining the key steps everyone needs to take around keeping patient care moving,” he said.
He highlighted the discharge checklist included in the document as particularly useful for helping staff plan safe transfers from hospital to community care.
“We all know that planning for discharge as soon as the patient is admitted is really important but it’s helpful to have the steps to follow visible,” Mr McGovern said.
The guideline includes tools such as Red2Green days, long-stay patient reviews and standardised discharge templates to help teams identify barriers to discharge and maintain patient flow.
A nine-step checklist is also included, covering everything from early planning and assessment through to communication with patients, families and community services.
The HSE Patient Flow Academy stresses that the aim of the initiative is to support staff in improving systems and pathways for safe, timely care while encouraging collaboration and sharing best practice across hospitals and healthcare services.