BACKGROUND There is an increasing trend towards shorter hospital stays after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), in particular for patients undergoing the procedure via transfemoral (TF) access. Preliminary data suggest that there exists a population of patients that can be discharged safely very early after TF-TAVI. However, current evidence is limited to few retrospective studies,...

OBJECTIVE To ensure safe care of mothers and babies after birth, irrespective of length of hospital stay, and to ensure effective links between hospital and community postnatal services. METHODS Program aimed toward consumers and professionals working with them in Ottawa-Carleton (750,000 persons.) All pregnant women in the community included. Program developed by professionals, institutions ...

T he UK has one of the longest waiting lists for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). In 1999–2000, 24 798 CABG procedures were performed at a typical cost of £4956, leading to total direct costs in excess of £122 million. Early discharge programmes have been introduced as a strategy to reduce hospital costs, increase the throughput of patients and decrease waiting list times. Early studies ...

Hip fracture patients occupy more and more hospital beds. One of the strategies for coping with this problem is early discharge from the hospital to institutions with rehabilitation facilities. We studied whether early discharge affects outcome and costs. 208 elderly patients with a hip fracture were followed up to 4 months after the fracture. First, a group of 102 patients stayed in our hospit...