Getting Unstuck: Challenges and opportunities in caring for patients experiencing prolonged hospitalization while medically ready for discharge

Many physicians care for patients who remain in the hospital for prolonged periods despite being ‘medical ready’ or stable for discharge. However, this phenomenon is not well defined and optimal strategies to address the problem are not known. A prolonged hospitalization past the point of medically necessity can harm patients, frustrate care teams, and is costly for the healthcare system. In this perspective, we describe opportunities to improve value of care for these patients through the lens of the Quadruple Aim, a common framework used to guide healthcare transformation efforts.