Safe transitions of care (e.g., from hospital to home or skilled nursing facilities) require robust processes to prevent errors like medication discrepancies or lack of follow-up. An organizational assessment should focus on evaluating these processes comprehensively.
Option A (Review patient feedback about transfers to skilled nursing facilities): Patient feedback provides insights but is limited to perceptions, not a comprehensive process evaluation.
Option B (Assess case management discharge and transfer records): Records show outcomes but do not evaluate the underlying processes driving safety.
Option C (Evaluate processes for discharges and transfers): This is the correct answer. The NAHQ CPHQ study guide states, “To ensure safe transitions of care, quality professionals should evaluate discharge and transfer processes, including communication, medication reconciliation, and follow-up planning” (Domain 5). Tools like process mapping or tracers assess these processes.
Option D (Audit documentation of patient discharge summaries): Auditing documentation is a narrow aspect of transitions, not a full process evaluation.
CPHQ Objective Reference: Domain 5: Population Health and Care Transitions, Objective 5.3, “Assess processes for safe care transitions,” emphasizes evaluating discharge and transfer processes. The NAHQ study guide notes, “Process evaluation ensures safe handoffs and continuity of care” (Domain 5).
Rationale: Evaluating processes provides a comprehensive assessment of transition safety, aligning with CPHQ’s care transition principles.
[Reference: NAHQ CPHQ Study Guide, Domain 5: Population Health and Care Transitions, Objective 5.3., , , , , ]
