Identifying Hospitalized Pediatric Patients for Early Discharge Planning: A Feasibility Study

•Engaging discharge planners early maximizes the time to design and implement a plan.•We determined the potential impact of a pediatric discharge planning screen on outcomes.•Patients who screen positive may benefit by discharge planning that starts early.•Preliminary evidence suggests the screen may be clinically useful.

A screening tool utilized by nurses at a critical point in the discharge planning process has the potential to improve caregiver decisions and enhance communication. The Early Screen for Discharge Planning–Child version (ESDP-C) identifies pediatric patients early in their hospital stay who will benefit from early engagement of a discharge planner. This study used a quasi-experimental, non-equivalent comparison group design to evaluate the impact of the ESDP-C on important outcomes related to discharge planning. Findings from the study provide preliminary evidence that the integration of the ESDP-C into the pediatric discharge planning process may be clinically useful.