Early Discharge Study for Premature Infants: Singapore General Hospital

INTRODUCTION: At Singapore General Hospital, approximately 240 infants of the 1500 deliveries per annum are delivered preterm, many of very low birth weight-median of 1210 g-often have extended hospital stays, even after they are declared medically fit. METHODS: To better understand the discharge patterns of the preterm infants in the department, a team of two neonatologists and two nurses performed a retrospective review of 36 premature infants. The underlying causes leading to and the root causes of discharge delays were identified as: Required goal weight of 2 kg, even when medically fitDelivery of discharge plan to parents delayedDischarge planning delayedNo ownership in discharge planning. RESULTS/CONCLUSION: The length of hospital stay was reduced 59.8%, primarily by improved discharge planning, revised guidelines (mean discharge at 1915 g), and nurses' active preparation of parents psychologically and mentally for care of their babies at home.