Article explores how to improve care transitions

Hospitals should implement standardized safe care transition pathways and actively include patients and families to improve transitions for older and more complex patients, a study found. Published online in April 2024 in the Journal of Advanced Nursing, the researchers found that clear communication, effective information technology use and collaborative care teams are imperative to improve care transitions. Hospitals also should use strategic and flexible resource planning. The researchers used document review, observation and interviews to explore how inconsistencies in timing and precision during transitions ─ such as early discharge from the hospital due to crowding or an insufficient assessment of activities of daily living ─ can result in adverse events for patients. (AHRQ Journal of Patient Safety article, 5/8/24)