[nursinghumor]

http://www.4nursing.com/discharge

Made up a page on Discharge Planning, you may find these helpful:

Discharge planning for CHF, Bandolier:"It is common for older people with congestive heart failure (CHF) to be readmitted to hospital within six months of hospital discharge. In the USA, up to half might expect to be readmitted, and it is stressful for the patients themselves, as well as consuming considerable resources. A new systematic review suggests that comprehensive discharge planning with post-discharge support can reduce readmission rates, and probably increase quality of care at lower cost [1]."
http://www.jr2.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/band124/b124-3.html
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Discharging Your Baby from the NICU, The Best Place For Your Baby, Brigham and Women's Hospital:"Unlike other patients, premature and sick newborn infants often require hospitalization beyond the acute phase of illness because of issues related to the normal progress of growth, ability to maintain their own temperature, feeding, and the control of breathing. For this reason, most premature infants are not ready for discharge from the hospital until approximately 5-6 weeks before their original due date. All infants must be able to maintain their temperature in a crib, gain weight, bottle or breast all of their feeds, and be free of apnea and bradycardia spells for one week before discharge. As a reminder, all babies mature at different rates. They walk, talk, and potty train at different times, thus they are discharged at different times."
75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Phone: 1 (617) 732-5500
1 (617) 732-6458 TTY/TTD
For Patients requesting an appointment, call 1-800-BWH-9999
http://www.brighamandwomens.org/newb...Udischarge.asp

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Is Your Discharge Planning Effective? Brown-Spath & Associates:"Discharge planning provides a critical link between the treatment received by a hospitalized patient and the care provided to the patient after discharge. Ideally one designated person or team is accountable for the effective discharge of patients. This may be the patient's primary nurse, a case manager, a dedicated discharge planner, or an inter-disciplinary team. Planning for a patient's post-hospital needs care does not begin on the day a decision is made to release the patient from the hospital. It is generally accepted that discharge planning should start prior to admission (for planned admissions) or at the time of admission (for unplanned admissions). Discharge planning is not a single intervention; it involves several activities:"
Brown-Spath & Associates
PO Box 721
Forest Grove, OR 97116
Patrice@brownspath.com or call (503) 357-9185
http://www.brownspath.com/original_articles/displan.htm

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Andrew Lopez, RN
http://www.nursinga2z.com