to clinician or system level issues13. Efforts to prevent
readmissions should be targeted to patients known to be at
a higher risk for readmission.
• Discharging patients following head and neck surgery from the
hospital is a complex process that is fraught with challenges.
Premature discharge or discharge to an environment that is
not capable of meeting the patient’s bio-psycho-social needs
may result in hospital readmission. Preventing avoidable
rehospitalisations has the potential to profoundly improve
both the quality-of-life for patients and the financial wellbeing
of healthcare systems7,12,13.
• Discharge planning should involve all members of the
multidisciplinary team and patient/family caregivers to
develop a patient-centered plan. A comprehensive discharge
planning is vital in preventing readmissions and ensures that
Aboriginal patients are discharged from the hospital with
appropriate level of services and follow-up in place8,13.
• Critical elements in successful discharge transitions include
adequate patient education and instruction, performing an
accurate reconciliation of medications, establishing timely
follow-up, and developing an appropriately detailed discharge
summary that is communicated to the GPs and specialists in
a timely fashion13,14.