Transferring Care from Hospital to Home - Gastrostomy

Chapter 14: Transferring Care

Overview:

• Summarises steps to be taken when transferring a person with a gastrostomy tube to the home
• Includes a simulated transfer letter and criteria sheet to assess whether a person is suitable for home tube feeding
• Provides close analysis of relevant case studies
• Addresses issues of concern about managing tube feeding before and after discharge to the home
• Suggests how to monitor the effectiveness of tube feeding in the home and recommends steps to take when terminating home tube feeding

Description:

After a person has been started on gastrostomy feeds and is tolerating the prescribed regimen, he or she can usually be discharged home or to another care facility. This chapter discusses the transition of care to another institution or to home. It refers to the passing on of information and documentation, education required before discharge, the practicalities of gastrostomy feeding at home, supplying formula and equipment and monitoring.

Topics:

• Transfer to another institution
  • Timely communication
  • The transfer letter
• Transfer to home
  • Benefits of home tube feeding
  • Team involvement before discharge
  • Suitability for home tube feeding
  • Feeding regimens
  • Formulae and equipment
  • Education
  • Practical aspects of going home
  • Team involvement after discharge
  • Home support
  • Monitoring weight and energy balance
  • Suppliers
  • Terminating home tube feeding

Speaker / Author:

Jacqui Bailey
Jacqui is a dietitian who holds a master’s degree in nutrition and dietetics, a bachelor’s degree in science, and a graduate certificate in paediatric nutrition and dietetics. She is a member of the Australasian Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, and Nutrition Australia. Jacqui has worked as a clinical dietitian for eight years. She was responsible for establishing a home enteral nutrition service for La Trobe Regional Hospital (Victoria, Australia) and for designing educational materials relating to tube feeding at home.

Jacqui understands the intricacies of caring for people at home, and is aware of the importance of communication among members of a healthcare team before and after discharge from hospital if care is to be optimised. She continues to work with gastrostomy patients both in hospital and after discharge from her current workplace, Monash Medical Centre (Melbourne, Victoria).

Professional Reviews: