Being discharged from the hospital can be an exciting time as you are reintroduced to familiar activities.  However, it can also be stressful and overwhelming. You might have follow-up appointments and new medications that you must remember. Your activities might be limited causing you to have to make adjustments to your lifestyle for the good of your health.

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At BHI, we want our patients to have a successful discharge process--meaning that we limit re-admissions as much as possible. We want our patients to return to everyday living--to be healthy, happy and prosperous. In order to assist in this process, BHI has implemented a discharge process. We also have a discharge coordinator that is assigned to assist during the transition process.

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Stacy Butler, RN, BSN works with patients to help them readjust to their home environment (for those patients who are able to return home). For patients that require extended care, Stacy works during the placement process--incorporating the patient and the family into each phase of the transition. The goal, no matter where the patient goes, is to keep the patient as healthy as he or she was on the day of discharge. 

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Being Honest

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One of the most important factors of a successful discharge plan is honesty. Upon being admitted, the patient is asked about conditions at home, the ability to keep follow-up appointments after he or she is discharged, etc. It's important to be open and honest with our discharge planner regarding your circumstances. A lot of times we have helpful resources to help eliminate issues. Therefore, tell us upfront what needs to be done to ensure that you are not re-admitted. 

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Some Resources

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When we identify circumstances that jeopardize a successful discharge plan, we have resources to help eliminate or reduce the likelihood of such issues causing a problem. Here are some of the resources we utilize.

 

1.) Transportation assistance

If you do not have adequate transportation to make it to your follow-up appointments, we have options to assist you.

2.) Assistance with medications

Some medications are expensive. However, there are programs that can help make your medications more affordable.

3.) Home health 

When patients are discharged to go home there could be on-going issues that require medical treatment. A home health nurse might be a solution to this problem.

4.) Placement 

For patients that can no longer care for themselves, placement might be an option. 

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For additional information about the discharge process, contact Stacy Butler (RN, BSN).

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