Attending physicians believe that hospitalized patients are treated at the appropriate level of care: A qualitative study. (1st October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mauritzon, Ingela Christina; Blom, Mathias; Borna, Catharina; Ivarsson, Kjell
• Is Part Of: International journal of healthcare management. Volume 9:Number 4(2016)
• Page Start: 219
• Page End: 224
• Publication Date: 2016-10-01
• Subjects: Hospital overcrowding -- Patient flows -- Delayed discharge; Health services administration -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Marketing -- Periodicals; 362.1068
• DOI: 10.1179/2047971915Y.0000000021
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2047-9700

Abstract

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the appropriateness of hospitalized patients' level of care as assessed by their treating physicians. The study was conducted as a qualitative study, based on a questionnaire. The study suggests that physicians generally believe that patients who occupy in-hospital beds are cared for at the appropriate level of care. It is worth to note that a relatively large fraction of patients have had their medical needs attended to, but remain hospitalized while waiting for municipal action. Successful downsizing of in-hospital bed-capacity assumes that either a segment of patients who are inappropriately hospitalized exists and could be identified, or that viable alternatives to in-hospital care exist and are available. The results of the present study argue against the first statement. However, we have identified a segment of patients who experience an unnecessarily long in-patient length of stay due to waiting times for municipal action and other post-discharge follow-up measures. Alternatives to in-hospital care which deserve further attention are supporting services in the outpatient setting.