NL Health Services are developing a new pilot process for discharging patients in need of an alternative level of care.

The health authority is partnering with Seafair Capital and Mobia Health to develop DischargeHUB, which will help coordinate the discharge of patients who no longer need acute care in a hospital setting, but are occupying a hospital bed while they wait to be transferred to a long-term care or rehabilitation facility, or discharged back to their home with support.

Using hospitals for patients who no longer require acute care but need extra support can lead to a shortage of beds for other patients.

The pilot will focus on patients who can safely be discharged to go home with the right supports such as oxygen or home care.

It will be rolled out at the Health Sciences Centre and St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital for six months over the winter.