Physical therapy Dyer IN may need to be part of your hospital discharge plan
When it is time for your loved one to be discharged from the hospital, a discharge plan is critical to the well-being of the patient. Physical therapy Dyer IN or other types of services may need to be included in the plan. Medicare defines discharge planning as “a process used to decide what a patient needs for a smooth move from one level of care to another.” While a doctor has to be the one who signs the discharge papers, a discharge plan can be facilitated by a nurse, a social worker, or a case manager. The ideal situation would be to have a team of professionals involved in the discharge process. A Physical Therapist may also be part of the team. For more information about physical therapy services see Physical Therapy Dyer IN
The basic components of a discharge plan are: Evaluation of the patient, Discussion with the patient, Planning for either homecoming or transfer to another facility, Deciding whether caregiver training or additional support is needed, Making referrals to appropriate community resources, and Scheduling follow-up appointments or tests.
The discharge plan needs to address the following specific topics:
- information about the physical condition of the patient
- description of the types of care that will be needed
- where patient will be discharged to–home or to a facility
- information about expectations for the patient’s improvement
- what kind of help will be needed for daily living activities, and who will provide assistance
- what medications and diet the patient will need
- what extra equipment might be needed
High quality discharge planning is very important because it can reduce the chances that your loved one will be readmitted to the hospital. It will also support the patient’s recovery, help ensure that medications are prescribed and taken correctly, and make certain that the patient gets the level and type of follow-up care that is appropriate.
We have discussed what a discharge plan is and what it should include. Next time we will look at why it is so important and how you can improve your chances of receiving an effective discharge plan.