Discharge Procedures

Contact Details

Hours:	8:00am – 4:30pm Monday to Friday (excluding Public holidays)
Location:	Echuca Regional Health
Phone:	03 5485 5800

Services

Once admitted to Echuca Regional Health, hospital staff together with yourself and your family, or carers, will plan for your discharge.

To assist you in planning for your discharge, consider the following:

Date of discharge:

Ask the hospital staff or your Doctor to inform you as soon as possible of the expected date of your discharge. This will help you plan your return home. The hospital aims to discharge patients by 10.00 am where possible.

Recovery and Special Instructions:

Before leaving the hospital, find out what to expect during your recovery, how long it may take, how to care for yourself when you go home and whether there are any restrictions on your activities. If you do not understand something, ask for more information from hospital staff.

Medication:

Make sure you take all your current medication with you to the hospital to show nursing staff and the admitting doctor.

Check that the hospital has arranged for sufficient medication on your discharge, or that you have been given a prescription for enough medication to last until you can visit your doctor.

Make sure that you understand what the medication is for and how and when you should take it. If in doubt ask.

Mobility and Independence:

You may need equipment and medical supplies on discharge to assist in your recovery and independence. Examples include walking frames, crutches, shower rails and continence aids. Discuss this with the staff from Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy Departments to ensure these items are available before discharge.

Home Nursing Care:

If it is felt that you will require nursing care at home after you are discharged, this will be arranged for you.

Carers:

If your spouse, family or friends normally care for you, they may also require extra support during your recovery period. You and your carer should discuss your expected recovery with the nursing staff to determine whether extra help will be required, and in what form.

Remember, it is important and in everybody’s best interest that you tell the nursing staff if your carer is uncomfortable with what may be required of them, or if they feel they may be unable to do what is asked of them.

Post Acute Care (PAC):

Short-term planned care provided at home for eligible patients with complex needs whilst recovery from an episode of acute illness or injury. For example: types of services include – home care for housework and shopping, personal care for showering and dressing.

Please discuss your needs with nursing staff who can refer to the PAC Coordinator as appropriate.

Food:

If you are unable to prepare meals for yourself when you return home, services such as Meals on Wheels can be arranged for you.

Medical and other appointments:

You may need to see your doctor or other health care providers after you are discharged. Hospital staff will arrange any necessary appointments which will be documented on your Discharge Advice Plan.

Transport:

Please note that patients must arrange their own transport home from hospital. You may need someone to accompany you home, so plan your transport well before discharge.

After discharge:

If you have any concerns contact your local doctor or the ward in which you were a patient. Remember, do not hesitate to ask if unsure of your discharge plan.