Authors

  1. King, Beth MA
  2. Young-Xu, Yinong ScD
  3. Lee, William J. MPH
  4. van Aalst, Robertus MS
  5. Shiner, Brian MD
  6. Mills, Peter PhD
  7. Eickhoff, Leah BA
  8. Neily, Julia MPH

Abstract

The Veterans Health Administration implemented The Daily Plan (TDP) to improve patient safety. We compared length of stay and readmission between intervention and control units. Length of stay decreased for both groups. Readmission rates increased for controls (21.3%-25.0%, P = .02) and barely changed for TDP units (21.7%-22.5%, P = .37). Although there were no efficiency improvements, TDP's ultimate goal was safety. Not all patient safety actions improve efficiency; nonetheless, their value continues.