Table 2 A medico-social checklist for identifying the main social barriers in hospital discharge from a nephrology unit

Item

If item is selected = need to evaluate social care

select

 1

Reason for hospitalisation = difficult (or impossible) to care for patient at home.

 2

Hospitalisation in relation to the caregiver’s problems (hospitalisation, caregiver burnout, other).

 3

Recurrent unplanned hospitalisations (>  1 per month), early readmissions (<  8 days)*

 4

Social/family isolation (living alone or lack of support from entourage).

 5

Presence of a dependent relative or minor left alone as a result of the patient’s hospitalisation

 6

Lack of housing/accommodation or accommodation temporarily or permanently unsuitable (unhealthy, inadequate...).

 7

Loss of autonomy in the acts of daily life.

 8

Unemployed or lack of economic resources.

 9

Patient does not receive social security benefits, therefore unable to pay for medical expenses (drugs, nursing, physiotherapy, etc).

 10

Patient known or suspected to be subject to abuse.

Action

Please record and complete to allow quantification

 1

Date of social worker’s call ………. Date of report……..

 2

Date of acceptance in an out-of-hospital care facility.

 3

Days from clinical indication for hospital discharge to actual hospital discharge