A new procedure for Patient Non-Financial Discharge was announced in May and implemented in June. This document guides caregivers through steps before releasing a patient from a provider’s practice, from a clinic, or from the Medical Group as a whole, and connecting the patient with alternative, ongoing resources and support.
- Emphasis on caregiver safety as a top priority and giving teams discretion to act according to local circumstance and nuance
- Reduction in the number of no-shows prior to discharge to 4 ROV/3 NPV (from 6ROV/4NPV)
- Including Employee Health and EAP as consultants in cases where caregivers have been harmed or threatened with link to Support for Caregivers Who are Victims of Workplace Violence
- Added language, "Patients who have made bodily harm threats toward physicians/APPs/caregivers will not be considered for reinstatement."
The Intermountain Medical Group – Utah advocates for safe, healthy, and respectful relationships between caregivers and patients. Our “Patient Non-Financial Discharge Procedure” protects these relationships and guides physicians, APPs, and care teams through appropriate steps when a patient is disruptive, threatening, violent, noncompliant with treatment agreements, exhibiting drug-seeking behaviors, and/or misses multiple appointments. By supporting this procedure across our clinics, we’re able to promote healing environments and access for all our patients.
We recognize that in some cases, patients’ concerning behaviors may have root causes related to equity factors, social determinants of health, underlying physical or behavioral health issues, or caregiver actions. A multidisciplinary committee made up of Medical Group clinical and operations leaders as well as Legal, Compliance, and patient safety, access, and advocacy experts continue to evaluate and make improvements to the discharge policy. These changes support equity, inclusion, and help coordinate care transitions and access to care management or community health resources