Discharge Planning: Helping To Keep You Out Of The Hospital

Let’s face it; hospitals are not a dream destination. Hospitalization is stressful to patients whose primary focus is healing and going home and stressful to their family. While some patients who are discharged from the hospital know they will have to be readmitted; unfortunately, others who did not plan to return find themselves back in the hospital for the same or a similar condition.

Many of these readmissions can be prevented through the discharge planning process. You, your healthcare provider, and the hospital staff should begin planning your discharge no later than the day of your admission. If your admission is for a scheduled surgery, you and your surgeon should discuss your post-hospital care needs before you are admitted to the hospital. Discharge needs may include follow-up appointments with your physician; medications; physical therapy; home nursing visits; equipment; or other services. During your hospital stay, your physician and a case manager, social worker, nurse, or other hospital staff person should talk with you about your discharge plan. Before you leave the hospital, you should also receive clear written instructions regarding your care needs after you leave the hospital. You should have an opportunity to ask questions about your post-hospital care before you go home and have the name and number of someone to contact if you have questions once you are home.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) provides resources to help you obtain safer care in the hospital and plan for discharge. Taking Care of Myself: A Guide for When I leave the Hospital is available at AHRQ’s website at http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/goinghomeguide.pdf. Additional resources to help you obtain safer care may be accessed at http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/safety.html#hospitals.

You may also receive assistance in planning for your hospital discharge from a nurse at your Local Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plan by calling the number on the back of your member identification card and asking for case management. In addition, our professional case managers are also available to assist members with chronic conditions or complex care needs who are not currently hospitalized.

August 2011, written by Santa Bigony, Ph.D., R.N., CCM, BlueCross BlueShield Association. Resources: www.ahrq.gov.

Page last updated: December 16, 2011