Reducing harms associated with ‘before medically advised’ hospital discharge

About 1 in 30 hospital patients leave the hospital before completing their treatment. These are known as ‘before medically advised’ (BMA) discharges. These patients are at a much higher risk of death, being readmitted to the hospital, or suffering from a drug overdose. Despite these risks, there are no established care guidelines for how to manage these patients, many of whom struggle with addictions and homelessness. To address this, the study will first examine whether the proportion of patients with BMA discharge has increased in Canada over the past 16 years. Next, the study will use data from British Columbia to explore whether proactive follow-up by a physician within 7 days of discharge can help reduce the risk of death, readmission, or overdose, compared to not having any follow-up. The goal is to create better care strategies for these vulnerable patients. The results will be shared with hospital staff, administrators, and the public to improve patient care.