This service applies to any patient who has been hospitalized for a period of time or has received medical treatment that required a short stay. Day surgery patients may also need the services of the Discharge Planner.

If you have had Emergency Surgery (e.g. appendectomy), your discharge planning will be done following your operation and any of the following avenues might apply to you. Your nurse or surgeon will direct you to the correct avenue that meets your needs.

If you are scheduled for Day Surgery, the nurse doing your pre-operative clinic will inform you and your family that you will be admitted in the morning and discharged later the same day. If, for any reason, this plan is not appropriate for you and your family and your discharge poses a problem, you must advise the nurse or the surgeon during this meeting. The Discharge Planner will be advised and alternate plans will be made with you.

If you are in need of Elective Surgery, the nurse or the surgeon doing your pre-operative clinic will discuss the length of stay normally expected after your type of surgery. If you think you will need assistance of any kind from the community services available, please advise them at that time. The Discharge Planner can be involved in helping find respite care or home care or any other service your condition may require. He will also work very closely with the Community Care Access Center.

After any type of surgery mentioned above and to assist you in post-hospital recovery, you will be provided with written instructions on the steps to take to look after yourself, along with the date of a follow-up appointment, should this apply to you. You may also receive information about the many programs and community services available, should you need any.

Planning your discharge starts when you are admitted. Depending upon the type of service you received and the complexity of your condition, if you require long-term care, you may also receive assistance from our Discharge Planner in choosing the appropriate long-term care facility. Once the preferred location and required services are determined, you and your family must accept the first available bed meeting your needs.

If you have been admitted to a room, we would appreciate it if you could have a family member or friend help you check out before 11:00 a.m. as our housekeeping staff needs to prepare the room for the next patient.

When you are ready to leave the hospital:

1. Your physician will write a discharge order on your chart.
2. Your physician will discuss your release with you or will ask the nurse to inform you.
3. Nursing staff will then assist you in leaving the hospital.