Key Questions and Concerns

The discharge process involves a lot of moving parts. The main goal is to make sure that you are ready to safely leave the hospital, and there are many factors to consider. For example, even if you are healthy enough to go home, arranging for nursing care may take extra time. Or, if you need to go to a rehabilitation facility, finding one that has space and suits you and your family's needs can delay the process. Also, many members of your health care team are involved in the discharge process. Coordinating their time and specific tasks can be difficult, especially in a busy hospital setting.

You'll be given a lot of information leading up to your discharge. To help you understand and remember it, here are a few tips for when you talk with your health care team about discharge:

• Write down any questions you may have before the conversation
• Have a family member or friend with you
• Take notes
• Ask your health care provider to speak more slowly and to explain medical terminology
• Request a follow-up meeting if you still have questions

There are several options for places to go when you leave the hospital. See the My Next Step Toward Recovery page for a list of possible settings, and talk to your doctor or nurse about which one may be right for you.

Appropriate types of home care or other post-hospital care will depend on your condition and living situation. If you feel that you need help caring for yourself at home, please contact your primary care physician or review your discharge paperwork to contact your BIDMC health care team. Your primary care physician or BIDMC team will work with you to make sure you are comfortable outside the hospital.

Follow-up appointments vary from patient to patient. Make sure to talk with your nurse or doctor about any follow-up care that you may need. Your discharge paperwork may have specific information, so be sure to review prior to leaving the hospital.

Please visit the Tools and Resources page, which includes some Internet glossaries of common medical abbreviations and acronyms that you may see or hear during the discharge process.