Hospital Stay Against Medical Advice
DG of Health Services and Programmes
Acknowledgement
The directorate general of specialized medical care would like to thank all hospitals, directorates, departments, and staff who reviewed and gave feedback on this document.
Acronyms
MoH | Ministry of Health |
PRO | Public Relation Officer |
SAMA | Stay Against Medical Advice |
SOP | Standard Operating Procedure |
1 - Introduction
Patients who refuse to leave the hospital can impose a unique challenge to hospital staff and to the health system in general. These patients can disturb the routine hospital functions by interrupting the normal flow of patients and reducing access to care by creating a shortage in admission beds. They can also frustrate hospital staff and consume hospital resources needlessly. Moreover, these patients can put themselves at risk of the consequences that may arise from unnecessary hospital stay such as the risk of exposure to hospital-acquired infections. Therefore, a careful and comprehensive approach should be implemented when dealing with these patients in order to facilitate the process of discharging them safely and effectively.