Effective Methods of Post Hospital Follow Up Care for Patients

Discharge planning for patients: A global concern

Discharge planning for patients is a global concern, but are there appropriate, global guidelines for post-hospital follow up care for patients? Probably not yet, but perhaps there should be now because of the growing concern about a global economic decline, the worldwide shortage of doctors and nurses and the rapid spread of infections like the H1N1 virus.

What happens to patients discharged from the hospital? 

Ideally, patients should have a safe and healthy environment to return to following hospitalization, but that may not always be the case. There are many patients in need of assistance on various levels, following hospitalization. Medical professionals focusing on care, compassion and concern help to bring about more effective post-hospital follow up care for patients.

Of course, effective methods of post-hospital follow up care for patients are often determined to some extent, by the reason why a patient undergoes hospitalization, in the first place. There can be any number of different scenarios in which a patient finds him or herself admitted to a hospital. Each patient is unique; so are the situations that a patient may be involved in, at any particular time.

Appropriate discharge planning is always important for the health and well being of every patient. Well-orchestrated, discharge planning can help to shorten a patient's stay in hospital and free up badly needed critical care, hospital beds.

What is discharge planning? 

Discharge planning is the process of transitioning a patient from one level of medical and health care to another. For example, a patient may be returning to his or her own home or have to find placement in another medical or health care facility, like a retirement home or nursing home. There are other possible options. For instance, there are group homes, as well as community centers designed specifically for patients who have specific problems.

What is involved in discharge planning? 

Initially, a physician authorizes the release of a patient from a hospital. A professional team approach is an effective method of post-hospital follow up care. Those who are actively involved in a patient's discharge from a hospital may include the patient, his or her family, a case manager, who could be a registered nurse assigned with the responsibility for a patient's follow up care, other registered nurses or non-professional home care workers, personal support workers or social workers etc.

According to the article entitled, "Hospital Discharge Planning: A Guide For Families and Caregivers", 

"In general, the basics of a discharge plan are: evaluation of the patient by qualified personnel, discussion with the patient or his representative, planning for homecoming or transfer to another care facility, determining if caregiver training or other support is needed, referrals to home care agencies and/or appropriate organizations in the community and arranging for follow-up appointments or tests" 

How does discharge planning for post-hospital follow up care, take place?

Generally, discharge planning is set up in conjunction under medical and nursing care guidelines from the patient's physician. The patient and his or her needs, as well as those of his or her family, are normally central in effective discharge planning.

It is important for each patient who is about to be discharged from a hospital, to participate in discharge planning, prior to his or her discharge. This ensures a high level of quality care, as well as the safety and protection of the patient. The patient's needs vary from individual to individual, depending upon each scenario and the patient's personal circumstances.

When does discharge planning begin? 

Ideally, discharge planning should begin before a patient's admission to hospital and continue throughout the length of the patient's hospitalization. That way, the patient and his or her family know what to expect. By the time a patient is ready for discharge, all of the discharge plans should be in place. Of course, one must recognize the reality that this is the ideal scenario for effective, post-hospital follow up care and not every patient situation is going to be the same. The unexpected can happen at any time.

Finding appropriate placement for all patients discharged from hospital may not be easy, depending upon the patient's diagnosis, medical and nursing care needs and ongoing treatment. Post-hospital follow up care may be restricted to basic nursing care, but nowadays, nursing care following hospitalization is becoming increasingly complex, because many patients now face immediate discharge after surgery.

With growing numbers of senior citizens, finding appropriate placement for them, upon discharge from hospitals is also a problem that is growing in magnitude. Community agencies find themselves overburdened with large numbers of elderly patients, who need of a place to live when discharged from a hospital. Many seniors must live with their families because they cannot afford the cost of retirement homes or nursing homes.

As the number of baby boomers needing placement following hospitalization continues to grow, so does the problem of discharge planning. Because there have been fewer babies born in the last few decades, many baby boomers may not have families who are able to be part of their post-hospital follow up care and thus, they have to arrange placement elsewhere.

It becomes increasingly important that post-hospital follow up care is organized and well planned. That way, the quality of nursing care patients receive remains on the highest possible level. Registered nurses assume a high level or responsibility for patients discharged from the hospital. Many of them take over the role of being case managers with non-professionals assuming many of the basic, nursing care responsibilities for the patient.

It is important that caregivers on every level receive proper training before the patient receives his or her discharge from the hospital. The registered nurse assumes the responsibility to teach caregivers in need of additional health care education and guidance. Families are gradually assuming more and more post-hospitalization patient responsibility and nursing care, because of the limited number of professional and non-professional health care givers, as well as the rising cost of nursing care.

Being aware that there are various models of discharge planning, allows patients and family members to see that they have viable options for post-hospital follow up care. Anyone who has concerns in this regard may contact his or her physician, who will be instrumental in assisting him or her to obtain the post-hospital, professional quality nursing care that is required. He or she may also make inquiries at the hospital or from various nursing agencies in the community.