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Priority #9:

What are effective alternatives to shorten length of stay for hospitalized children and youth on the general paediatric inpatient unit? (GPIU)?

Length of stay in hospital is defined as the time between admission and discharge of a patient. For children whose emotional and cognitive abilities are limited, this can be an anxiety-provoking and even traumatic experience, characterized by feelings of discomfort, fear, and loneliness. 

Gaps in Evidence

Prolonged hospitalizations can be stressful for children, youth and their families. While some evidence was identified which speaks to supporting transitional care in neonatal services, these studies tend to focus on specific care units such as the NICU and PICU. To remedy this gap, research is needed to identify ways to shorten the length of stay for hospitalized children and youth in GPIUs.

Directions for Future Research

  1. What challenges are associated with evening discharges (e.g. is staying overnight sometimes unnecessary)? How does time of day impact medical disposition decisions?  

  2. What standardized discharge processes can help to reduce length of stay without compromising patient safety (e.g. expected date of discharge, goals for discharge, communication to consultants regarding time of discharge)?  

  3. Which specific conditions managed on GPIUs could be safely and effectively cared for as outpatients with close follow-up care (e.g. neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, bronchiolitis, cellulitis, etc.)?

  4. What methods of care could be implemented to shorten the length of stay without compromising patient safety (e.g. home hospitalization, late consultations by consultants, transitional care)?

  5. How can the length of stay for patients with hyperbilirubinemia be decreased?

  6. What existing home care services and resources could be implemented to facilitate early discharge for children with medical complexity (e.g. nursing/home resources)?

The Top 10 Priorities

Read more about other priorities:

#1

What best practices and/or care models exist for inpatient care for children and youth with medical complexity on the GPIU?

#2

What methods of communication are most effective between patients, caregivers and health care providers on a GPIU?

#3

What are the best practices and support strategies for Indigenous parents, families and children and youth on the GPIU?

#4

How can we ensure that healthcare delivery in hospital meets the needs of children and youth with developmental disabilities on the GPIU?

#5

What are effective support strategies for parents, families, and children and youth hospitalized on the GPIU?

#6

What mental health supports can be provided to parents, families and children and youth while hospitalized on the GPIU?

#7

What are effective ways to incorporate shared decision-making with parents and children and youth hospitalized on the GPIU?

#8

What are effective strategies to mitigate the impacts of prolonged inpatient hospitalizations on the GPIU?

#9

What are effective alternatives to shorten length of stay for hospitalized children and youth on the GPIU?

#10

What are the most effective communication methods between healthcare providers on a GPIU?

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PIRN est un nouveau réseau canadien développé pour pour générer des données probantes qui amélioreront les soins et les résultats des enfants hospitalisés en milieu pédiatrique général.

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LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to acknowledge the land on which SickKids operates. For thousands of years it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat and Petun First Nations, the Seneca, and most recently, the Mississaugas of the Credit River. Today, Toronto is home to Indigenous Peoples from across Turtle Island. SickKids is committed to working toward new relationships that include First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, and is grateful for the opportunity to share this land in caring for children and their families.

Dernière mise à jour:août 2020 par l'équipe PIRN. Créé avec Wix.com

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