Galati Monika, Wong Hannah J, Morra Dante, Wu Robert C
Department of Social Work, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Health Care Manag (Frederick). 2011 Jul-Sep;30(3):242-6. doi: 10.1097/HCM.0b013e318225e1dd.
A study was undertaken to make an evidence-based case for the value of social workers in efficient discharge of patients from acute care hospitals and to assist hospital managers in making informed staffing decisions. Hospital administrative databases from March 1 to November 30, 2008, were used for the analysis of inpatient discharges on days when social workers were on vacation compared with days fully staffed with social workers. Two performance measures, daily discharge rate and average length of stay, were evaluated. During the study period, 1825 patients were discharged from the General Internal Medicine inpatient service. Team discharge rates were significantly lower on social work vacation Fridays versus regular Fridays. In contrast, the average length of stay for patients discharged on social work vacation Fridays was significantly shorter than that for patients discharged on regular Fridays. It was concluded that daily discharge rate better quantified the role of social work in patient discharge. More generally, these results provide preliminary support for the need for adequate social work staffing in timely and efficient patient discharge.
开展了一项研究，旨在为社会工作者在急性护理医院有效安排患者出院方面的价值提供循证依据，并协助医院管理人员做出明智的人员配置决策。利用2008年3月1日至11月30日的医院行政数据库，分析社会工作者休假当天与满员配备社会工作者当天的住院患者出院情况。评估了两项绩效指标，即每日出院率和平均住院时间。在研究期间，1825名患者从普通内科住院服务中出院。与正常周五相比，社会工作者休假的周五团队出院率显著降低。相比之下，在社会工作者休假的周五出院的患者平均住院时间明显短于在正常周五出院的患者。得出的结论是，每日出院率能更好地量化社会工作在患者出院中的作用。更普遍地说，这些结果为在及时、高效地安排患者出院方面需要充足的社会工作人员配备提供了初步支持。
