Optimizing the Post-Acute Care Continuum: An Interdisciplinary Review of Safety, Quality, and Economic Outcomes in the Hospital-to-Home Transition for Technology-Dependent Patients
Abstract
Background: The shift of advanced medical care from institutional to home settings represents a transformative trend in healthcare delivery. For patients dependent on technologies such as home mechanical ventilation, intravenous therapies, and complex monitoring, this transition introduces multifaceted challenges spanning clinical safety, care quality, and health economics. The success of this model hinges on seamless interoperability between traditionally siloed hospital-based disciplines and community care structures. Aim: This narrative review aims to synthesize contemporary evidence on the hospital-to-home transition for technology-dependent patients, critically examining the integrated roles of health security, nursing, laboratory science, respiratory therapy, radiology, pharmacy, and hospital management in optimizing safety, ensuring quality, and achieving economic sustainability. Methods: A systematic search of peer-reviewed literature (2010-2024) was conducted across PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and Business Source Complete. Results: The review identifies critical success factors, including robust interdisciplinary discharge planning, comprehensive caregiver education, secure health information technology integration, and innovative payment models. Persistent gaps include cybersecurity vulnerabilities in connected health devices, fragmented data systems, and workforce shortages in home care. Evidence indicates that well-coordinated transitions significantly reduce preventable hospital readmissions and improve patient-reported quality of life. Conclusion: Effective management of the post-acute care continuum for technology-dependent patients requires a deliberately engineered, system-level approach that prioritizes interdisciplinary collaboration. Future efforts must standardize protocols, invest in secure remote monitoring technologies, and align reimbursement structures with longitudinal outcomes to ensure this care model is safe, high-quality, and economically viable.
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Authors
Copyright (c) 2024 Musab Qasem Wasili, Eman Ayoub Ahmad Alibrahim, Emad Essa A Wasili, Thamer Mohidi Alanazi, Bader Ibrahim Al Dayel, Fouad Shaddad Alasmari, Muteb Naif Bin Obaid Aldajani, Marzouq Quedan s Alotaibi, Hussain Ali Al Zaid, Naifah Muharib Mutarid Alruwaili, Essa Tuwayli Almutairi, Mohammed Abdullah Asiri
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