Supporting transitions out of hospital for patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities
What is it about?
Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who also have a co-occurring mental illness are almost five times as likely to experience a delayed hospital discharge as adults with mental illness only. These delays occur when a patient no longer requires hospital-level care but cannot be discharged, often because of a lack of appropriate post-discharge settings. Delayed discharges contribute to poor patient outcomes, increased system costs, and delayed access to care. Recently, practice guidance was developed in Canada, identifying 10 components of successful transitions for this population. Core to this guidance is a patient-centered, cross-sectoral approach, including the patient, family, hospital team, community health care providers, and IDD providers.
Why is it important?
Extended, unnecessary hospitalizations lead to poor outcomes for those patients stuck in hospital, including physical and psychological deterioration, as well as delays to critical care for other patients who require hospital care. The transition components described in this article can support patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities to transition more quickly and more successfully into the community. A hospital is not a home and these individuals have the right to live in a safe environment in the community which meets their needs and promotes belonging.