How does discharge planning affect children diagnosed with chronic respiratory illness, re hospitalization rates in a 60 day period?

Professor and class,

The approved systematic review I decided to go with discharge plans to prevent hospital readmission for acute exacerbation in children with chronic respiratory illness.

Question: How does discharge planning affect children diagnosed with chronic respiratory illness, re hospitalization rates in a 60 day period?

P- Children diagnosed with chronic respiratory illness.

I- Detailed discharge planning upon initial hospitalization period.

C- No discharge teaching during initial hospitalization.

O- Re hospitalization within 60 days period.

T- Time 60 days.

In the past year the home health agency that I’m currently employed was granted permission to start providing services for pediatric patients. Within this population we serve the vast majority suffer from chronic respiratory diseases. The clients diagnosis include tracheostomy, ventilator dependency and oxygen dependency. A trend observed among several patients is re hospitalizations for the same diagnosis within a few months. Even though discharge instructions is provided via paper documentation no formal teaching is completed per parents verbalization during the hospitalization period. My view of the lack of education / teaching is due to the diagnosis being chronic, discharge planners may assume parents are knowledgeable. Tools that I utilize during the teaching period are reinforcement of disease process is certainly required to prevent re hospitalizations of chronic respiratory illness patients. Detail sign and symptoms to monitor on a daily basis along with vital signs parameters as a guide. The importance to report change in condition to MD immediately in order not to delay early intervention preventing hospitalization. Furthermore new and improved treatments can help with managing chronic respiratory diseases at home. Documenting daily activities can assist in assessing when change in condition initially occurred. The RN assessment following hospitalization reveals parents / guardians require detail teaching and reinforcement of caring for children diagnosed with chronic respiratory diseases at home. Adherence to medications, follow up with specialist, infection control methods and precautions are always provided upon my assessment in efforts to prevent re hospitalization.

Research gap is when inadequate data retricts potential to attain a conclusive resolution to proposed evidence based questions. ( Elsevier, 2013). Gap happens between current data and immediate day to day clinical practice.