Late-day inpatient discharges create bottlenecks in the ED/PACU and decrease hospital throughput efficiency. Patients often report late-day discharges as a source of dissatisfaction. Hospital staff voice similar dissatisfaction when an influx of patients is discharged just hours before a second group of patients is received in late afternoon. Avoiding late-day discharge consequences was the impetus behind the hospital-wide Discharge-Before-Noon (DBN) initiative. While such a concept is not new, what is striking about the DBN is the speed at which it began to produce outcomes, as well as the process employed for “hardwiring” success. This session will examine the hospital-wide DBN initiative. Speakers will describe how to successfully implement a “prescription for DBN” initiative, and discuss key considerations in monitoring and sustaining performance.

Learning Objectives:
1. Articulate the rationale for a discharge before noon initiative, case management’s role, and the impact on patient care and hospital throughput

2. Identify a strategic approach to successfully implementing a discharge before noon initiative