This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.

The chief objective of this report is to evaluate the effects of early postpartum discharge on maternal and neonatal outcomes and readmissions. It also examines its effects on screening for metabolic diseases of the newborn, the duration and quality of breast-feeding, and patient satisfaction. The study looks at the economic implication of shorter lengths of stay, and describes the current situation in Quebec.

The report points out that there are no conclusive data as to whether or not early discharge may pose a risk to maternal and neonatal health. The Conseil stresses the importance of clearly defining the parameters of a safe early discharge programme, and suggests approaches for better identifying and assessing early discharge as practised in Quebec.