An evaluation of pre-admission assessment for elective surgery

Abstract

Increased pressures on hospitals to minimise the hospital stays of patients can limit effective planning for patient discharge. In an attempt to maximise social work resource use while providing quality patient care, a major Sydney teaching hospital evaluated pre-admission screening and early social work intervention as an alternative strategy to hospital-based social work provision and discharge planning for patients on a waiting list for elective surgery.

Of 243 patients admitted during a two-month period to an elective surgery program, 74 pre-admission screenings were conducted. This process resulted in over 48 per cent of all social work services being provided prior to hospital admission. While information and education were the most common services provided, 22 per cent of interventions to the subject group involved the use of more complex social work skills. The findings support pre-admission screening and the provision of social work intervention prior to admission once specific 'at risk' groups are identified and targeted.