University Hospital Wishaw has launched the new Optimal Discharge Planning Target Operating Model (TOM), which aims to streamline the patient discharge process and improve overall patient experience.
The hospital-wide rollout follows months of planning and stakeholder collaboration. Clinical staff and staff from social care attended a workshop at the hospital’s lecture theatre to hear about the optimal discharge pathways and to ask questions.
The Optimal Discharge Planning TOM focuses on ensuring that patients are discharged earlier in the day, feel more confident about leaving the hospital and avoid rushed discharges. It integrates key elements like real-time communication, criteria-led discharge planning and discharge lounges as standard practice for all wards. The model covers all four key discharge pathways—ranging from routine cases to complex and end-of-life care.
Claire Ritchie, University Hospital Wishaw site director, explained, “This new model is designed to make patient discharge as smooth as possible. It’s not just about getting patients home sooner; it’s about making sure they leave with the right support, confidence, and care plan in place.
“By adopting clear pathways and ensuring all departments are aligned, we are focused on delivering the right care at the right time.”
The TOM emphasises early planning and close collaboration with patients and families to prevent rushed or delayed discharges. Under this new framework, the hospital aims for 30% of its discharges to happen by noon and for the discharge lounge to handle 40% of total discharges.
The new model includes daily board rounds, multidisciplinary team (MDT) reviews and the integration of community and social care services where necessary. For more complex cases, additional support such as equipment ordering, virtual MDTs, and discharge to assess pathways will be employed.
The hospital’s leadership expects the new TOM to significantly reduce the length of patient stays, improve bed availability and alleviate pressure on emergency departments./
