Grant: Health System Impact Fellowships - Doctoral Eastern Canada 1-year

When patients no longer need hospital-level care but can't yet go home, for example, because they're waiting for rehabilitation, home care, or long-term care, they are labelled as "Alternate Level of Care" (ALC) patients. These patients often remain in hospital beds longer than necessary, leading to overcrowding, delayed surgeries, and increased risk of complications like loss of mobility or hospital-acquired infections. In Newfoundland and Labrador, ALC pressures are a growing concern across the health system. This project, hosted by Eastern Health (NL Health Services) in partnership with Memorial University of Newfoundland, aims to improve how ALC patients are discharged from hospitals. The focus is on two new initiatives: DischargeHUB, a digital platform that coordinates the many moving parts of discharge planning (like equipment, home care, and family support); and the development of an ALC Transition Centre, a dedicated unit that provides short-term care for patients who are medically stable but not yet ready to go home. As a Health System Impact Fellow, I will be embedded within Eastern Health's Research and Innovation team. My work will involve evaluating and refining the implementation of DischargeHUB and contributing to the design and feasibility assessment of the Transition Centre model. I will collect feedback from staff and patients, monitor outcomes like discharge delays and patient satisfaction, and explore whether certain populations (e.g., those in rural areas or without caregivers) face more barriers in the discharge process. This project supports safer, more efficient, and more equitable hospital discharges. It also aims to reduce hospital overcrowding and improve patient flow, helping the health system function better for everyone. Findings from this work may guide future improvements across the province and other health systems in Canada.