COUNTER-REFERENCE IN THE PROCESS OF DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION FOR HOME CARE IN THE PERCEPTION OF NURSES

Abstract

Dehospitalization is characterized as the process of transitioning care, enabling continuity of assistance to the home or to lower-complexity services. This study aimed to understand the perception of nurses from both hospital and home care settings regarding the dehospitalization process through the counter-referral of patients in palliative care to home care. This is a field research in which data collection was conducted through interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire, applied to nine nurses. The results show that nurses recognize that dehospitalization, when carried out properly, offers advantages both for the patient and the family, in addition to contributing to the optimization of hospital beds. However, the process is permeated by weaknesses, such as late identification of patients for palliative care, poor communication between the professionals and services involved, and the absence of an effective counter-referral flow. In this context, there is an inference regarding the need for professional training, integrated communication, and the adoption of unified protocols. These are fundamental elements for the effectiveness of the dehospitalization process, making it essential to articulate joint actions between managers, professionals, and policymakers.