Patient and caregiver views on factors affecting the experience of transitioning from hospital to home: discharge process
| Unique concept | Representative quote* |
|---|---|
| Being discharged too early | None of us felt [the patient] was ready to leave the hospital but felt he was being pushed out to free up a bed. (Caregiver of male patient, age 65–79) Discharged too early. I felt I hadn’t healed and was afraid of reinjuring. (Male patient, age 65–79) Reason for mental health crisis had not been resolved; although the person was no longer in a suicidal state, they still had suicidal ideation. (Caregiver of male patient, age 50–64) |
| Discharge being delayed | Long wait to be discharged. (Caregiver) On the discharge day (Saturday), we waited several hours for the doctor to sign the discharge papers. By the time she did, the pharmacy was closed, so they had to give us enough for 24 hours, and we had to make another trip (20 minutes each way) the next day to fill the prescription. (Caregiver of female patient, age ≥ 80) |
| Discharge process being rushed | Felt a little rushed to leave room as someone was waiting for bed, but staff made sure I understood my discharge papers. (Female patient, age 50–64) I had almost no preparation time to leave, it was, like, “Get out of bed, you’re going home.” (Female patient, age 19–25) Rushed process, nurse run ragged and [information] passed on in 3 minutes. (Facilitated group participant) |
| Receiving clear and consistent communication about health status in preparation for going home | I was nervous as they still didn’t know what [had] caused the horrible leg infection [the patient] had. (Caregiver of male patient, age 65–79) The doctors were not honest about [the patient’s] prognosis — they [glossed] over it, and the patient did not fully understand what was happening. (Caregiver of female patient, age 65–79) |
| Being involved in discharge planning | Discharge planning was well done. My mother was involved in her discharge planning, as were her caregivers. (Caregiver of female patient, age ≥ 80) Family/caregiver were not involved in [patient’s] care plan or discharge plan, although [they were] expected to [provide] support outside hospital and provide housing during crisis. (Caregiver of male patient, age 50–64) |
| Having short notice of discharge time | I was notified that same day that my spouse was being discharged and had to arrange to leave work and pick him up. (Caregiver of male patient, age 65–79) No warning was given that [the patient] was being discharged; one day it was a week away, the next day it changed to that day. (Caregiver of female patient, age ≥ 80) |
| Seeing the doctor at time of discharge | Did not see the doctor at time of discharge, [which left] many, many unknowns and [added] to fear. (Female patient, age 26–49) None of the doctors took the time to tell me anything on discharge. The only doctor who did explain anything was not present the day of discharge. He had explained a further test I needed before discharge. I never got the test. (Male patient, age 50–64) |
| Having challenges with transportation home | The person I cared for was unable to get into the car and [couldn’t] afford to transfer back home in an ambulance. (Caregiver of male patient, age ≥ 80) My caregiver wasn’t given a wheelchair to put me in to take me to the car. She had to go down to the lobby to get one and come all the way back up. (Female patient, age 26–49) I did not have anyone to pick me up or any money to get home. So I had to walk, it was a 5-mile walk. (Female patient, age 50–64) Had to drive over 200 km to my home. Travel grant doesn’t cover the full cost of an overnight stay. Very exhausting. (Female patient, age 65–79) |
↵* Respondent age and gender are provided when available; caregiver respondents provided the age and gender of the patient they were caring for.