After an extended stay in the hospital, transitioning back to home life can be a difficult and uncomfortable process. Many patients feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the shift back to their normal routine. In addition, there may be a range of physical, emotional, and mental challenges that come with returning home after an extended hospital stay.
This article will explore transitional care—what it is, its benefits, and more. Here's what you need to know:
What is Transitional Care?
Transitional care is a patient-centred approach to healthcare that helps individuals transition from one care setting to another. It is designed to ensure that patients receive the necessary care and support during the transition. This care is necessary for patients who have been in the hospital for a long time, have been discharged from a hospital, or are transferring to a new care setting.
The goal of transitional care is to reduce readmission rates, improve patient outcomes, and reduce the cost of care. By providing patients with a transition plan that includes a list of follow-up appointments, medication management, and other resources, patients are better prepared for the transition period.
This helps ensure they receive the most appropriate care and support during their transition.
The Benefits of Transitional Care
Maintain Health and Well-being
The primary benefit of transitional care is that it helps individuals maintain their health and well-being during times of transition. Transitional care can include everything from assisting individuals to manage their medications and follow-up visits to providing mental health support and assistance with activities of daily living.
This type of care is especially important for those recently discharged from the hospital, as it helps them adjust to their new environment and routine.
Reduce Readmission
Transitional care also helps reduce the risk of readmission to the hospital. Studies have shown that transitional care services can help reduce the risk of readmission by as much as 50%. This is because transitional care helps ensure that the patient receives the right level of care and that any potential problems are addressed quickly and effectively.
Reduce Costs
Transitional care also helps reduce costs. By providing ongoing support and care coordination, transitional care services can help reduce the need for costly hospitalisations and readmissions. Additionally, transitional care services can help patients avoid unnecessary tests and treatments, which can help reduce overall healthcare costs.
Improve Quality of Life
Finally, transitional care can help improve the quality of life for individuals. Transitional care services can help individuals maintain their physical and mental health, as well as their independence. This type of care can also help individuals stay connected to the community, providing them with a sense of purpose and connection.
The Bottom Line
Overall, transitional care is an essential concept in healthcare that often gets overlooked. It provides ongoing support and care coordination while the patient adjusts to their new environment and lifestyle.
Transitional care can help individuals maintain their health and well-being during times of transition, reduce the risk of readmission to the hospital, reduce costs, and improve the quality of life. For these reasons, healthcare providers must incorporate transitional care into their treatment.
It provides ongoing support and care coordination while the patient adjusts to their new environment and lifestyle. This type of care also helps ensure that the patient receives the right level of care and that any potential problems are addressed quickly and effectively.
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