Planning Your Discharge Our goal is to manage your hospital stay carefully so that you can return home as soon as possible, avoid an unplanned readmission and bridge the gap between hospital and community services you may require following discharge. While in hospital, your care team will work with you on patient treatment plans, discharge goals and put in place the supports you require to go home.
When does discharge planning begin?
If your hospital stay was planned, you most likely were advised in advance of your estimated date of discharge. If your hospital visit is unplanned or you are admitted to hospital through Emergency, planning for your discharge begins immediately after admission. There are discharge coordinators on every unit.
Going Home Your attending doctor is the only person authorized to give you permission to leave the hospital. Please advise your family as soon as your doctor tells you when you will be able to leave the hospital so that they can ensure clothes are available and pick up arrangements are made as quickly as possible. Many patients are discharged in the morning. However, the doctor may discharge you from hospital at any time during the day or evening. If you are having difficulties arranging transportation home, please advise a member of your health care team. We can help you with your arrangements. Please note that transportation costs are the responsibility of the patient and/or family. Every day we have high volumes of admitted emergency patients waiting on stretchers for an inpatient bed. If you are unable to arrange timely pickup from the hospital, you will be asked to wait on a chair in another area of the inpatient unit. This is so we can prepare the room for the next acute patient. Before you leave the hospital, your doctor or primary nurse will go over written instructions about treatment, medication and/or restrictions. It is important that you understand all the instructions about your medications, diet, activities, and return appointments. You may require further care at home after discharge from the hospital. Please be sure to discuss your needs with a member of your health care team. If you need special equipment when you return home (such as crutches, walkers, commode chairs, etc.) please speak to your physiotherapist or occupational therapist. If you have questions or concerns, please ask a member of your health care team. New parents - don’t forget an infant car seat is required by law. Make sure your new baby’s first drive home is a safe one!
Home First...a partnership approach to help you move easily from hospital back to your home At Osler, we provide holistic care to help you regain your health and return home as quickly as possible. We know that each patient and family is unique and we will do our best to accommodate special cultural, religious or personal requests that you may have
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Here for you... caring for you