Why caring for unrepresented patients is a growing issue
Read Article: Becker’s Healthcare
Article Summary: The growing number of unrepresented patients in hospitals—those without family or legal decision-makers—presents significant operational and financial risks. These patients can experience delays in care due to the lack of timely consent, leading to extended hospital stays, particularly in ICU or end-of-life care. This strains hospital resources, increases costs, and can lead to ethical dilemmas for healthcare providers who are unable to act in the patient’s best interest.
The Risks:
Delayed Treatment: The absence of a decision-maker for unrepresented patients can delay patient consent, resulting in postponed treatments and impacting timely care delivery. (Area: Operations) (Category: Capacity and Access)
Extended Length of Stay: Unrepresented patients may experience longer hospital stays due to delays in appointing a decision-maker, disrupting patient flow and increasing resource utilization. (Area: Operations) (Category: Capacity and Access)
Increased ICU & End-of-Life Care Costs: Prolonged stays in the ICU or during end-of-life care for unrepresented patients lead to increased operational costs, straining financial resources and affecting hospital profitability. (Area: Operations) (Category: Capacity and Access)
Ethical & Legal Compliance Challenges: The legal process of appointing decision-makers for unrepresented patients creates compliance risks, potentially delaying care and exposing healthcare providers to legal consequences. (Area: Legal and Insurance) (Category: Legal)