When it’s not clear who’s taking a patient home after their procedure at an ASC, the resulting ambiguity and uncertainty can cause a discharge delay or even a same-day cancelation of their procedure before it even begins.
Two safety and risk management experts from patient safety organization ECRI—Anna Thomas, MSN, RN, and Jackie Ferenschak, MA—tackle this issue in the peer-reviewed journal Patient Safety, with their article “Should Patients Be Accompanied When Discharged From Ambulatory Surgery?”, in which they offer guidance that ECRI says is “grounded in current regulations, accreditation standards, and the latest evidence.”
Key takeaways include when and how to make exceptions, addressing health equity concerns, and the pros and cons of rideshare transport solutions. The article also addresses exactly what staff should do when a responsible adult isn’t available to transport the patient away from the facility.
Read the full article in Patient Safety here.
