Project Summary:
Emergency Department (ED) discharge is a critical transition, yet current processes lead to high rates of revisits and hospitalizations, especially among patients with limited English proficiency (LEP). Up to 15% of patients return within 72 hours, and 25–50% of LEP patients experience a revisit or hospitalization within 30 days, contributing to preventable costs and system strain. This project aims to improve ED discharge at Weill Cornell Medicine by identifying workflow gaps from patients and providers and creating equitable, scalable processes that improve outcomes for vulnerable populations.
Using a qualitative, patient-centered approach, the study will conduct semi-structured interviews and cognitive walkthroughs with 30 recently discharged ED patients and 20 frontline ED providers, including nurses and physicians. Insights from these interviews will guide the creation of pragmatic, patient-centered discharge workflows that balance the needs of LEP populations with constraints of ED practice. A three-month pilot study will then assess the feasibility and acceptability of the redesigned process.
Specific Aim 1: Develop a beta Redesigned Discharge Process (b-RDP) using Intervention Mapping and participatory design methods informed by patient and provider interviews.
Specific Aim 2: Evaluate the pilot implementation of the b-RDP to inform development of a final Redesigned Discharge Process.
Study Updates
The study is currently in Phase Two, with ongoing patient and provider interviews.