Specialty Solutions Spotlight: Hospital Discharge Planning in Workers’ Comp
Donita Stacker
Director of Operations, Apricus, an Enlyte company
How does hospital discharge planning contribute to a successful transition home?
Prior to leaving the hospital, injured employees need a well-organized plan to ensure a successful transition home. This plan should include arrangements for essential services like durable medical equipment (DME), home health care, transportation and diagnostic services, especially in cases involving complex injuries.
Without a well-defined strategy for a seamless transition home, an injured employee may face difficulties in self-care, transportation issues for appointments, and increased frustration with their situation. These challenges can lead to safety risks, potential readmission and delays in recovery and return to work.
With proper support, transitioning from the hospital to home or a facility can be seamless. Home health providers are crucial in aiding injured employees who need in-home care or adjustments to their daily routines following a work injury. Transportation services ensure that these individuals reach their destinations safely. Additionally, DME plays a crucial role in securing the necessary equipment and services required for the injured employee’s recovery at home and throughout their rehabilitation journey.
To lighten the workload for adjusters and case managers, it’s crucial to promptly delegate care coordination to a specialty solution provider. This includes organizing the essential products and services mentioned above, such as timely home health care and transportation services. Partnering with a specialty solution provider and their hospital discharge coordinators streamlines the discharge planning process, minimizing the burden on adjusters and case managers.
Before discharge, the hospital discharge care coordinator will work with the case manager and hospital staff to determine the injured employee’s specialty solution needs. Skilled in asking the right questions, the coordinator ensures the comprehensive needs of the injured employee are addressed. By serving as a single point of contact for all planning, the coordinator effectively manages the specific requirements outlined by the physician, case manager, social worker and hospital staff. Additionally, the implementation of a hospital discharge planning program can result in substantial cost savings.
An effective discharge planning program should encompass several essential features:
- A proactive approach, coordinating all products/services in advance of discharge
- Availability 365/24/7
- National provider coverage for all services
- Collaboration with case managers and adjusters
- Consistent ability to secure DME and home health services promptly
- Highly skilled professionals who understand the complexities of workers’ comp cases, recovery and return to work
- Coordination of complex/catastrophic cases with multiple parties
- Remove the guess work and provide simple and easy processes
When it comes to hospital discharge planning, Apricus offers a single point of contact for all equipment and services that an injured employee may need to help facilitate their recovery. Apricus care coordinators actively assess and secure services, ensuring timely access to care, while acting as compassionate advocates. Regularly collaborating with case managers and adjusters, our coordinators provide early coordination for all parties involved to achieve a smooth hospital discharge.
To learn more about Apricus hospital discharge planning services, please visit apricusinc.com. To make a referral for this service and others, call us today at 877.203.9899 or send an email to referrals@apricusinc.com.
This information is meant to serve as a general overview, and any specific questions should be fully reviewed with a health care professional or specialty service provider.