Slide 16

Discharge Planning

Image of the discharge process from patient admission to post-discharge follow-up call.

Notes:

"Let's discuss discharge terms. The patient is admitted and soon thereafter a history and physical is completed and a treatment plan is decided. At this point we should begin patient education, (i.e., teaching the patient about the diagnosed condition, medications, and treatment plan. At some point the discharge order is written, and patient education becomes discharge teaching or instructions. The discharge process includes activities that actually move the patient out of the hospital. After the patient departs, post-discharge followup occurs. All of these items fall under the umbrella of discharge planning or the discharge program."