Hospital Discharge Home Care Path LLC

Discharge planning is defined by Medicare as a process used to decide what a patient needs for a smooth move from one level of care to another. Medicare requires that the discharge plan be safe and adequate. So, discharge from a hospital does not mean the senior has fully recovered. Discharge from a hospital means an MD has decided that the senior has reached a stable condition and does not need to be hsopitalized anymore. Families have been consistently reminded to be sure there are no inaccurate assumptions with the hospital discharge plan. Be clear on what family will be required to do for the senior when they arrive home. If an agency is coming in to help the senior make sure the workers are in place (this is more than just a phone call made by the discharge planner to start service). Families have been reminded that if discharge is to a nursing home make sure the physical location is close to accomidate family visits. Discharge planning has always been important based on the way health insurance works, hospitals make money by refilling beds, not by having existing patients linger in the hospital.