Long-Term Care and Discharge Access Information System

We seeks to develop a computerized health care information system that provides nursing homedata to hospital discharge planners. Since the introduction of the prospective reimbursement systemto hospitals based upon Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) and the popularization of managed health care,hospitals have been under increased pressure to discharge patients. Collection of nursing homeinformation is critical to the discharge process and requires extensive time and effort by many socialworkers. We will collect the nursing home data, and each social worker will access the information viaelectronic means; thus reducing duplication of effort. Information includes bed availability, paymentaccepted, demographic data and recreational, medical and professional services available. Phase I islimited to Jackson Memorial Hospital social workers and Dade county nursing homes, while Phase II willbe expanded statewide to cover all long-term care facilities.