Archived August 20 2008 - may contain information of historical interest (some links may not work)

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HEALTH SERVICE IMPROVEMENT PLANS

Effective Discharge Strategy Discharge Improvement Plan and Guidelines 2001/02 to 2002/03 (PDF file 12KB)

In 1998-99 $4 million was allocated to hospitals, aged care services and Multi Purpose Services (MPS) to develop and commence implementation of three year plans to enhance discharge processes and practices. A further $3.6 million was allocated for the implementation of plans in 1999-2000.

Discharge Improvement Plan Guidelines were distributed to hospitals, sub acute services and Multi-Purpose Services (MPS) in December 1998 to assist in the development and preparation of the Plans.

Hospitals, sub acute services and MPS were expected to consult with key stakeholders, including consumers, carers, residential providers, general practitioners and other community based providers in the development and implementation of the plans.

Plans focused on areas identified as weaknesses in current discharge processes and practices, particularly in relation to:

• ensuring better communication within the hospital, aged cares service and MPS, and between the hospital and patients and their carers and community providers;
• the timely transfer of information in relation to discharge;
• monitoring and review of patient discharge strategies.

Draft plans were submitted to the department on 31 March 1999 and were reviewed by a group comprising representatives from the Expert Advisory Group. The comments were collated and forwarded to hospitals, sub acute services and MPS to be incorporated into their final plans. The final plans were provided to the Department at the end of July 1999, were reviewed by departmental officers to ensure that they meet the guidelines. In 2001, all health care organisations were required to submit a Discharge Improvement Plan for the final two years of the strategy. As before, the plans were reviewed by the department and feedback was given on the plans.

The final Discharge Improvement Plans focused on:

• further improving discharge policies and practices;
• implementation of the performance indicators, including upgrading patient record documentation; and
• the sustainability of discharge practices into the future.

Hospitals have also been required to submit progress reports to the Department for each year of the strategy.