Patient Transitions from Inpatient to Outpatient: Where Are the Risks? Can We Address Them?

Transitions of care from the inpatient to outpatient setting can be dangerous. Studies have shown that almost half of all hospitalized patients experience a medical error after discharge. With efforts to decrease the cost of healthcare, patients are discharged "quicker and sicker" oftentimes leaving families to manage the patient's recovery with little support. Most medical errors can be traced back to communication breakdowns and lack of systems to follow up on needed care. Inpatient and outpatient providers must work together to develop processes to address these deficits or face decreasing reimbursement and malpractice claims.