Discharge Procedure

Discharge Procedure

1. Discharge planning should be done from admission itself so that it may be processed when the patient shows signs of improvement.

2. Voluntary Patients can be discharged by the Consultant Psychiatrist or upon a request made by the patient after documenting the same.

3. Involuntary Patients (Temporary Admissions) shall only be discharged by the Consultant Psychiatrist opinion.

4. District and Magistrate Court ordered admissions will be referred back to the Court, if discharge is possible for consideration.

5. During MDT team meetings if it is decided to discharge a patient the medical officer responsible should take all attempts to discharge the patient as quickly as possible.

6. A discharge summary/diagnosis card must be completed prior to the discharge of the patient. You should make all attempts to fill all the gaps in the diagnosis card. Writing the official diagnosis on the card is a must for all patients.

7. Last page of the BHT (H8 form) must be completed during patient‘s discharge

8. ICD – 10 Diagnoses Should Be Given In All Patients. It is the responsibility of the Medical Officer to enter ICD-10 diagnosis on the H8 form upon discharge.

9. NIMH does not recognise the procedure ―Left Against Medical Advice (LAMA)‖ and it should never be documented as such on BHT.

10. Must clearly write the follow up plan and/or referral in the diagnosis card. Sometimes a specific referral letter / care plan may be needed in complex cases.

11. Nursing Officers must complete the discharge checklist at the time of the discharge after performing the stipulated tasks.

12. A clear handing over of patients should be documented in the BHT by the Nursing Officers.

13.Discharge cards/ clinic books should not carry the note ―DO NOT Admit to NIMH‖ ; instead can use ―Do not admit without senior opinion‖