Publication Date
Spring 2025
Degree Type
Doctoral Project
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Department
Nursing
First Advisor
Lisa Walker-Vischer
Keywords
hospital discharge, patient outcomes, interdisciplinary collaboration, PARIHS framework, healthcare efficiency, discharge planning, overcrowding, patient-centered care
Abstract
The doctoral project deploys a "Discharge Before Noon" strategy at an urban teaching hospital to resolve discharge delays and improve patient throughput efficiency. Hospitals experiencing overcrowding must prioritize timely patient discharges to enhance clinical results and operational performance. The project adopted the PARIHS framework to steer implementation through its emphasis on evidence-based practices, contextual factors, and facilitation strategies. The research gathered discharge data and team coordination results before and after the intervention period. The findings revealed elevated discharge numbers before noon and substantial progress in interdisciplinary team collaboration. The initiative indicated an optimizing trend for discharge procedures, even though statistical significance was not achieved in discharge rates. The essential components of the program featured proactive discharge communication with patients alongside interdisciplinary discharge planning meetings and real-time discharge goal tracking. The study faced limitations due to the brief intervention length and inconsistent team dynamics that affected implementation processes. Organizations should shift project tasks to case management and resource nurses to sustain improvements and embed discharge efficiency practices into regular procedures for ongoing enhancement. Structured discharge methods and effective teamwork are crucial elements that improve patient-centered care delivery while boosting hospital throughput. The "Discharge Before Noon" initiative uses strategic interventions to reduce discharge delays while enhancing health outcomes in complex healthcare settings.
Recommended Citation
Ventura, Jessie, "Enhancing Hospital Throughput with the Power of Reminders: Implementing a Discharge Before Noon Strategy at An Urban Teaching Hospital" (2025). Doctoral Projects. 181.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31979/etd.8zeu-kg2r
https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/etd_doctoral/181
