Patient and Caregiver Experience of Hospital Discharge from an Acute Medicine Unit via the Discharge Lounge: A Qualitative Case Study

Discharge lounges enable the swift movement of patients imminently awaiting hospital discharge, to free beds without delay. This Qualitative Yin-Style Case Study describes the patient and caregivers experience of transition from an Acute Medicine Unit (AMU) to a discharge lounge and staff perspectives, as organisers of this process. Audio recorded, interviews and focus groups were undertaken. Data were analysed using Framework Analysis. Lack of patient-centeredness in moving patients to the discharge lounge emerged with three themes: ‘moving the problem’; ‘being moved’ and ‘feeling removed’. Patients were transferred at accelerated speed. Communications between staff, patients and carers were abruptly curtailed. Patient transfer from AMU to a discharge lounge is a transitional stage in the acute discharge process and must be adequately communicated.