The Follow-up Nurse Program, as a valuable initiative in Iran's health system, aims to continue care for patients after discharge from the hospital. With the implementation of this program, the Ministry of Health seeks to bridge the gap between patient discharge and their return to normal life through continuous monitoring and care. This program, which started in 2021, helps patients properly follow their treatment process and prevents the occurrence of treatment-related issues.
Post-Discharge Care; From Hospital to Home
Abbas Abadi, the Deputy for Nursing at the Ministry of Health, elaborated on the details of this program at the World Burn Week conference, stating that patients after discharge are monitored by nurses for a period ranging from one month to one year. These follow-ups are conducted via phone, and specialized nurses in various fields assess the patients' conditions. This process helps patients correctly take their medications and undergo prescribed tests.
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Positive Results of the Follow-up Nurse Program
Khorshid Vaskui, the Director General of Health Promotion and Nursing Services at the Ministry of Health, announced in an interview with the media that one of the most significant achievements of this program is the reduction of patient readmissions to hospitals. Statistics show that the percentage of patients who visit hospitals in an unplanned manner has decreased from 11.8% to 5.1%; this means about a 50% reduction in unexpected visits. This change not only relieves pressure on healthcare facilities but also helps patients continue a larger part of their care and treatment process at home.
The Follow-up Nurse Program ensures the continuation of proper treatment at home and identifies patients' problems in medication consumption. Vaskui pointed out that in many cases, patients mistakenly take medications due to a lack of awareness of medical instructions, and this program is particularly effective in identifying and resolving these issues.
This service is provided in 957 hospitals across the country, and patients can contact nurses to stay informed about their treatment status. Additionally, this program helps prevent interruptions in patients' treatment processes and ultimately leads to an improvement in the quality of healthcare services in the country.
Considering the positive feedback from the implementation of this program, about 95% of people have expressed satisfaction with the follow-up nursing services and stated that they feel content and pleased that their health status is being monitored even after discharge. This process reflects the Ministry of Health's attention to patient health and its efforts to improve the quality of healthcare services.
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