Policies and initiatives to facilitate timely discharge from hospitals : a comparison of six European countries
(2026) In Health Policy 168.- Abstract
BackgroundTimely discharge of patients who are clinically ready to be discharged from hospitals to the next point of care is a common health system challenge. Ensuring safe and effective discharge holds new urgency, given the backlogs and increased waiting times for inpatient services in many countries after the COVID-19 pandemic.ObjectiveThe study aimed to identify policy options for addressing delayed discharges in six European countries (Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden), and to summarise available evidence on their effectiveness.MethodsExperts from the Health Systems and Policy Monitor (HSPM) network of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies and additional country experts identified... (More)
BackgroundTimely discharge of patients who are clinically ready to be discharged from hospitals to the next point of care is a common health system challenge. Ensuring safe and effective discharge holds new urgency, given the backlogs and increased waiting times for inpatient services in many countries after the COVID-19 pandemic.ObjectiveThe study aimed to identify policy options for addressing delayed discharges in six European countries (Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden), and to summarise available evidence on their effectiveness.MethodsExperts from the Health Systems and Policy Monitor (HSPM) network of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies and additional country experts identified relevant policies and initiatives up to November 2023. When evaluations were available, the experts also provided information on their findings. The data collection was followed by a qualitative, cross-country comparative analysis.ResultsA total of 17 policies or initiatives were identified in the study countries. Hospital-based initiatives included discharge planning and transitional care. Community and home care initiatives included municipal emergency beds, intensive home rehabilitation, and assisted discharge. Cross-sectoral initiatives ranged from coordination efforts at the regional and municipal levels to decision support systems and financial incentives.ConclusionSeveral common factors or principles underpin many of the identified policies and initiatives. These include clarity of responsibility, effective planning and communication, resourcing of community-based capacity, possible unintended consequences of financial penalties, and the need to adopt a systemic approach.
(Less)
- author
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-06
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Cross-country comparison, Delayed discharge, Health policy, Europe, Hospital, Policies, Timely discharge
- in
- Health Policy
- volume
- 168
- article number
- 105595
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:41861535
- scopus:105034583734
- ISSN
- 0168-8510
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.healthpol.2026.105595
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 23c08826-c349-437d-ba07-e976d00b7f8e
- date added to LUP
- 2026-07-06 15:30:04
- date last changed
- 2026-07-06 15:30:41
@article{23c08826-c349-437d-ba07-e976d00b7f8e,
abstract = {{<p>BackgroundTimely discharge of patients who are clinically ready to be discharged from hospitals to the next point of care is a common health system challenge. Ensuring safe and effective discharge holds new urgency, given the backlogs and increased waiting times for inpatient services in many countries after the COVID-19 pandemic.ObjectiveThe study aimed to identify policy options for addressing delayed discharges in six European countries (Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden), and to summarise available evidence on their effectiveness.MethodsExperts from the Health Systems and Policy Monitor (HSPM) network of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies and additional country experts identified relevant policies and initiatives up to November 2023. When evaluations were available, the experts also provided information on their findings. The data collection was followed by a qualitative, cross-country comparative analysis.ResultsA total of 17 policies or initiatives were identified in the study countries. Hospital-based initiatives included discharge planning and transitional care. Community and home care initiatives included municipal emergency beds, intensive home rehabilitation, and assisted discharge. Cross-sectoral initiatives ranged from coordination efforts at the regional and municipal levels to decision support systems and financial incentives.ConclusionSeveral common factors or principles underpin many of the identified policies and initiatives. These include clarity of responsibility, effective planning and communication, resourcing of community-based capacity, possible unintended consequences of financial penalties, and the need to adopt a systemic approach.</p>}},
author = {{Eriksen, Astrid and Rechel, Bernd and Dodsworth, Emma and Reed, Sarah and Adamsson, Elisabeth and Anell, Anders and Berger, Elke and de Jong, Judith and Zaleski, Isabelle Durand and Frich, Jan and Hörnqvist, Linda and Jervelund, Signe Smith and Kroneman, Madelon and Lindström, Johan and Lundgren, Carl and Siciliani, Luigi and Saunes, Ingrid Sperre and Sundelius, Jan and Svensson, Fredrik and van Ginneken, Ewout and Vrangbæk, Karsten and Curry, Natasha}},
issn = {{0168-8510}},
keywords = {{Cross-country comparison; Delayed discharge; Health policy, Europe; Hospital; Policies; Timely discharge}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Health Policy}},
title = {{Policies and initiatives to facilitate timely discharge from hospitals : a comparison of six European countries}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2026.105595}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.healthpol.2026.105595}},
volume = {{168}},
year = {{2026}},
}