Discharge

What to Expect

Your provider has released you from the hospital. Usual wait times for the provider, nurse and other staff to prepare your discharge paperwork can be anywhere from 60 minutes to 90 minutes or more. Some tasks that are completed during this time might include verifying medications you will take at home, notifying your pharmacy of new prescriptions, setting up your follow-up appointment(s) and completing a final teach back of your new medications and how you will care for yourself at home.

How You Can Help

Planning for your discharge actually starts during your admission. Before you leave the hospital, we want to make sure you feel ready. During your hospital stay, use the following checklist to see what information you need from us as you or your family prepare for your discharge.

If you cannot check a box, use the questions listed to ask your provider or nurse about the information you need.

I feel confident that I or someone close to me can take care of me at home.

How do I take care of my incision or wound? Show me how to do this.
What foods or drinks should I avoid? For how long?
Are there any activities I should not do like driving, sex, heavy lifting, or climbing stairs? For how long?
What exercises are good for me? When and how often should I do them?
What do I need to do to make my home safer?

My family or someone close to me knows I am coming home and knows the next steps in my care.
Will I need help when I get home? If so, who will help me? What do they need to do to get ready?
What should I do if there is no one at home who can help me?

I know what my medications are and how to take them.
What medicines do I need to take when I leave the hospital? Do I take the same medicines that I took before I went into the hospital?
Why do I take this medicine?
When and how do I take this medicine?
How much do I take?
What are the potential side effects of this medicine? What problems do I need to look for?
Will this medicine interfere with other medicines, foods, vitamins, or other herbal supplements I take?
What medicines can I take for pain? Upset stomach? Headaches? Allergies?

I know what problems to look for and who to call if I have problems at home.
What problems do I need to watch for when I get home? If I have problems, how do I know when I should call? Who should I call?
If I have questions about my care after I leave the hospital who should I call?

I know when my follow-up appointments are and how to get there.
Am I waiting on results of any tests? When should I get the results?
Are there tests or treatments I need after I leave the hospital?