After intensive care, children can go home directly, says study
Sending children home directly after they have been hospitalized in the intensive care unit is a safe and efficient approach, according to research conducted at CHU Sainte-Justine.
Dr. Nadia Roumeliotis highlighted the benefits of this method as it optimizes the limited resources of the healthcare system by avoiding unnecessary stays in various departments.
Emphasizing the importance of resources, Dr. Roumeliotis stated, “We have to adapt to the changing times where staff and hospital beds are becoming increasingly scarce.”
Not only does discharging patients directly from the intensive care unit to their homes save costs, but it also proves to be more efficient compared to keeping them in the hospital unnecessarily, according to the studies.
The study authors noted, “Direct discharge to home for appropriate patients can enhance the efficiency of healthcare systems.”
While transitioning directly from the intensive care unit to home may be daunting for parents, receiving adequate support and guidance post-discharge is crucial for a smooth transition.
Dr. Roumeliotis and her team’s recent research revealed that around one in four young patients are able to go home directly after their intensive care stay, especially those who are less severely ill.
Their studies indicated that these children who directly return home pose no higher risk of emergency room visits or hospital readmissions within two weeks compared to those who are transferred to a transitional care unit.
However, patients who needed to return to the emergency room post-discharge from the intensive care unit were more likely to require intensive care again.
In conclusion, the findings suggest that with proper support and guidance, sending appropriate patients directly home from the intensive care unit is both safe and effective.
Keyphrase: pediatric intensive care
