7 Things to Consider When Discharging From the Hospital
- What are you able to do safely on your own & what will you need help with? (ex: bathing, cooking, shopping, laundry)
- Do you need to go to a subacute rehab facility to regain your strength?
- Will you need homecare services? (ex: a nurse that visits a few times a week or home health aide)
- What will your insurance cover? (Medicare does not cover everything)
- Do you have the needed supplies and, if not, where do you get them? (ex: bandages, wraps, gloves, adult diapers)
- Do you have the equipment you will need and the space for it? (ex: hospital bed, commode, walker, grab bars)
- Do you have transportation to get to follow-up doctors visit. (ex: can you or a family member drive or call a cab? do you need an ambulance or wheelchair car?)
You have the right to choose where you will be discharged. If you feel you are being sent home too soon you have a right to appeal that decision. A realistic assessment of what you can do is important for being able to make an informed decision.