The early discharge clinic: A safe and efficient model for intensive outpatient management of hematologic malignancies.

Abstract

e13558 Background: Hematologic malignancies often necessitate complex treatment regimens that can result in prolonged hospitalizations, increasing healthcare costs, and straining resources while diminishing patients' quality of life. To address these challenges, Northwell Health established New York State’s first Early Discharge Clinic (EDC), designed to facilitate a safe and efficient transition from inpatient to outpatient care. Methods: We describe nine pillars (Clinic Hours and Access, Scheduling, Laboratory Services, Infusion support, Urgent Radiology, Procedures, Pharmacy Services, Hospital Readmission Protocol, and Support Services) that actuated the operationalization of the program, report early outcomes, and compare length of stay to historic matched controls. Results: Analysis showed that between 2023 and 2025, a total of 181 unique patients accounted for 325 enrollments, with an average LOS reduction of 14.8 days. During the first two years of operation, patients had a median of five evaluations, nearly all received blood products; when required, time to first antimicrobial was < 48 minutes. Eleven non-scheduled re-admissions occurred during the first week post discharge. Conclusions: The program demonstrated a safe and effective model for outpatient management of patients undergoing intensive therapy for hematologic malignancies. These findings offer valuable insights into the potential of EDCs to enhance care delivery while optimizing resource utilization.