European journal of internal medicine
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Acutely ill patients are not infrequently referred to the hospital and admitted, when they could be diagnosed and managed in the ambulatory setting or by hospital-level care at home. Avoidable admissions are particularly regrettable when the wide spectrum of hospitalization-associated patient harm is considered. ⋯ The myriad types of harm that often accompany hospital admission is often not fully appreciated. Better awareness may result in better preventive strategies, in finding alternatives to hospital admission in some cases, and may contribute towards an improved patient experience and safety when hospitalization is mandatory, and the provision of enhanced care in the vulnerable post-discharge period.