Caremap management for postoperative prostatectomy care at home: a comparative study.

Objective: To evaluate early discharge from hospital with community-based care as an alternative to hospital-based care for patients who have undergone transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).
Design: Prospective comparative study.
Setting: A major urban hospital and the urban community.
Patients: Of 198 patients who underwent TURP between Jan. 10, 1994 and Sept. 30, 1994, 81, discharged on postoperative day 1, received the caremap method of health care delivery at home. They were compared with 85 patients who were discharged on postoperative day 2 or 3 and received standard hospital-based care.
Main Outcome Measures: Readmission to hospital, reuse of health care services, complications and patient satisfaction.
Results: Comparison of the 2 groups revealed no significant differences in readmissions to hospital, reutilization of health care services or complications. Following these initial results, the early discharge program was expanded to include all acute care hospitals and the surrounding community.
Conclusions: Postoperative care for TURP can be delivered in the home. A critical success factor was the ability to provide quality care in the community without adverse effects.