RITH4HIPS
RITH4HIPS – Implementation study trialling early supported discharge (Rehab In The Home) following low-trauma hip fracture
Early supported discharge programs like rehab in the home (RITH) utilise ‘virtual beds’ and are promoted to help people get home faster after being admitted to an acute hospital bed. Hospital lengths of stay are protracted at Liverpool Hospital and protracted stays are a problem for the hospital as it causes bed block (new patients cannot get admitted) and patients may be exposed to more hospital-based harm simply because they stay longer.
RITH programs are recommended following low trauma (osteoporotic hip fracture), but they are not used commonly for this patient population. If such programs are safe for people who are eligible and also reduce the demand for hospital beds, then the provision of RITH programs represent a real opportunity to improve the hip fracture care pathway at Liverpool Hospital and elsewhere where protracted hospitals stays are evident after hip fracture.
MSK Clinical Theme Investigators: Conjoint Professor Justine Naylor, Associate Professor Bernadette Brady, Dr Thuy Anh Bui
Funding
Co-funded by SWSLHD and The HCF Research Foundation
Consumer involvement
A consumer representative and a consumer have contributed to aspects of this study.