Eur J Trauma Emerg S
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Eur J Trauma Emerg S · Feb 2008
Evaluation of Factors Delaying Discharge in Acute Orthopedic Wards: a Prospective Study.
Prolonged hospitalization due to delayed discharge not only increases cost, it also increases the risk of medical complications e.g., hospital acquired infections. Length of stay (LOS) is one of the indicators that reflect total cost of care during hospitalization. The study was planned to evaluate the factors affecting delay in discharges from hospital and whether these factors are avoidable. ⋯ Older patients with co-morbidities are more prone to long stay due to de-conditioning requiring social input and nosocomial infection. The study thus proved the hypothesis and suggested that early identification of social issues and prompt discharge planning helps to avoid delay in discharge.