Guest posting by Bailey Flynn
An organ transplant is an incredibly complex and delicate medical process. However, the process that the patient must undergo post-transplant is equally, if not more, complex. At TCH, after a patient receives a new liver and is released from the ICU, he is cared for on the 12th floor. This may last several days or even weeks, depending on the patient’s health status and coordination among the transplant team.
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During the stay, daily activities, such as rounds and medication administration are performed. Additionally, specific action items, such as education and appointment making must be completed before discharge. The figure above illustrates just how complex and interconnected the overall process is, and this is not even a complete diagram.
The figure also highlights the need for structure in the discharge process. With so many activities and so many players, an organization method–such as a collaborative checklist–could greatly simplify the process and lead to a faster, more efficient discharge.
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