Get Printable Patient Discharge Instructions

A discharge summary is a clinical report prepared by a health professional at the conclusion of a hospital stay or series of treatments. It is often the primary mode of communication between the hospital care team and aftercare providers.

Discharge to a Facility ensure continuity of care. clarify the current state of the patientʼs health and capabilities. review medications. help you select the facility to which the person you care for is to be released.

Use the Admission/Discharge/Transfer (ADT) Navigator for discharging patients. Next click on the “Discharge” tab: Start with the “Problem List” subtab. Review the problems pertinent to and added on this hospitalizations.

Upon discharge, typically a nurse presents and explains written instructions to the patient or patient surrogate. Discharge instructions provide critical information for patients to manage their own care.

A written transition plan or discharge summary is completed and includes diagnosis, active issues, medications, services needed, warning signs, and emergency contact information. The plan is written in the patient's language.

Our data demonstrate that a significant number of patients have no or poor understanding of their discharge instructions, and many patients fail to receive complete discharge instructions.

In this article, discharge instructions are defined as any form of documentation given to the patient or guardian, upon discharge to home, for the purpose of facilitating safe and appropriate continuity of care.

To continue to paraphrase the APTA's description: All discharge summaries should include patient response to treatment at the time of discharge and any follow-up plan, including recommendations and instructions regarding the home program if there is one, equipment provided, and so on.