Journal of hospital medicine : an official publication of the Society of Hospital Medicine
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Patient-initiated or "before medically advised" (BMA) hospital discharge is more common among people who use drugs. Transitions of care can be destabilizing and might increase the risk of subsequent illicit drug overdose. ⋯ Both BMA and physician-advised hospital discharge are independently associated with transient increases in the risk of subsequent illicit drug overdose. Better in-hospital treatment of substance use disorder and novel means of post-discharge outreach should be deployed to reduce this risk.
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Diagnostic errors are a leading cause of patient harm. In 2022, the Leapfrog Group published a report containing 29 evidence-based practices that hospitals can adopt to reduce diagnostic errors. ⋯ The findings suggest large and important implementation gaps for practices related to diagnostic excellence and can inform new initiatives to promote diagnostic excellence in US hospitals.