AHRQ Innovations Exchange | Day Hospital Reduces Inpatient Length of Stay and Emergency Department Visits for Patients With Sickle Cell Anemia

Innovation Profile:

Day Hospital Reduces Inpatient Length of Stay and Emergency Department Visits for Patients With Sickle Cell Anemia


Snapshot
Summary
Memorial Regional Hospital’s Sickle Cell Day Hospital provides an alternative to inpatient care for patients with sickle cell anemia, with the goal of appropriately managing their pain and keeping them out of the hospital. Patients receive an initial assessment that includes a complete physical examination from a nurse practitioner and/or internist, and appropriate outpatient pain management overseen by a hematologist and palliative care physician. Patients also receive ongoing management based on a care plan, which includes monitoring of sickle cell anemia comorbidities, basic primary care, and psychosocial assessment. Day hospital patients have lower lengths of stay and lower emergency department utilization than the hospital’s sickle cell anemia patients who are not treated at the day hospital.

Evidence Rating
Moderate: The evidence consists of pre- and post-implementation comparisons of key outcomes measures, including length of stay (LOS) and emergency department (ED) visits, along with post-implementation trends in visits to the day hospital.

Developing Organizations
Memorial Regional Hospital
Hollywood, FL.

Date First Implemented
2003

Patient Population
Race and Ethnicity > Black or African American; Hispanic/Latino-Latina; Vulnerable Populations > Racial minorities

full-text:
AHRQ Innovations Exchange | Day Hospital Reduces Inpatient Length of Stay and Emergency Department Visits for Patients With Sickle Cell Anemia