Admission-Discharge-Transfer (ADT) Systems
What are admission-discharge-transfer systems?
Admission-discharge-transfer (ADT) systems help manage one of the most important workflows within hospitals: the admission, discharge, and transfer process.
These systems store vital patient information such as names, ages, medical record numbers, and contact information. If needed, this information can be shared with other healthcare facilities and programs, providing them with quick access to valuable and potentially life-saving information.
ADT systems work as a part of the hospital information system (HIS) and help track patients from the moment of arrival to departure, whether that is discharge, transfer, or death.
How do ADT systems improve healthcare?
ADT systems make it easy to record and access patient admission data, improving hospital productivity and patient care.
For instance, patients admitted for a specific reason, such as an illness, will prompt the system to alert healthcare workers of activities to complete immediately, such as giving medication or placing the patient in isolation.
ADT systems also assist with interoperability, making it possible to inform the patient’s care team of any admission, discharge, or transfer. This ensures that all providers, including those outside the hospital, are up to date on the details related to a patient’s visit, such as chart notes, discharge instructions, or medication lists. This can help improve the patient’s quality of care and prevent readmission.