The effectiveness of a comprehensive discharge planning protocol (CDPP), implemented by a Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist (GCNS), was examined in a double-blind study. Eighty acute care patients age 75 and older participated in the study. For those in the treatment group, length of hospital stay was reduced by 2 days and the average time between discharge and readmission was increased by 11 days. According to functional status measures, placement at 2 and 4 weeks post-discharge was deemed appropriate for over 87% of the patients in both groups.