Bed blocked
Formal Definition
A patient who is medically ready for discharge but cannot leave due to social, logistical, or placement barriers.
How It's Used on the Ward
"He's bed blocked" — medically done but stuck waiting for SNF placement, home services, or family decisions.
Example
""Mrs. Patel has been medically stable for 3 days but we're bed blocked — the family can't take her home and the SNF won't have a bed until Monday.""
Clinical Context
Bed blocking is a system problem that ties up inpatient capacity. Case management and social work are the key players here. As a student, understand that a patient still on your list isn't always a clinical problem.
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