We seeks to develop a computerized health care information system that provides nursing home data to hospital discharge planners. Since the introduction of the prospective reimbursement system to 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 home information is critical to the discharge process and requires extensive time and effort by many social workers. We will collect the nursing home data, and each social worker will access the information via electronic means, thus reducing duplication of effort. Information includes bed availability, payment accepted, demographic data and recreational, medical and professional services available. Phase I is limited to Jackson Memorial Hospital social workers and Dade county nursing homes, while Phase 11 will be expanded statewide to cover all long-term care facilities.Awardee's statement of the potential commercial applications of the research:Commercially this system could be developed as a comprehensive discharge planning database for all long-term care facilities and will be used by hospitals, providers and funding sources. The system will be available electronically on a bulletin board system for a fee, to users.National Institute on Aging (NIA)
