Our staff is committed to providing care and support while you’re here, which includes helping you plan for when you leave the hospital. Planning to leave the hospital is called discharge planning.
Discharge planning begins early in your hospital stay. Good planning helps you feel prepared for discharge, and helps you to continue your recovery once you leave the hospital. During the discharge planning process, your care team will work with you and your family to understand your care needs, what’s most important to you and what resources you may need.
Preparing for your discharge
Things to know
Your discharge date
Your whole health care team has a role in ensuring the plan for you leaving the hospital is as safe as possible and meets your needs to help you heal and recover.
Once your care team has determined your expected discharge date, they will share this information with you. You will want to tell your family or caregiver this date, and ask if, on this date, he or she can pick you up between 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Discharge is before 11 a.m.
This means you will be leaving the hospital between 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on the day of your discharge. You will want to make sure the person picking you up from the hospital knows that discharge is between these times.
Who will pick you up from the hospital
If you do not have somebody to pick you up from the hospital on the day of your discharge, talk to somebody on your care team. He or she will help you arrange transportation for the day you will be leaving the hospital.
Pay-for-transport
If you need help to get home beyond family, friends, or taxi, your care team can set up your ride home through a non-emergent transport service. You, your family or caregiver can also make these arrangements. Sunnybrook does not pay for patient transportation costs from the hospital to home, including to Long Term Care. You or your family are responsible for these costs and will need to give a credit card number to the transportation service before leaving the hospital. If you have any questions, please ask a Social Worker or health care team member on your unit.
Questions to ask
Do I need to make any lifestyle or self-care changes once I've left the hospital?
Following an illness or injury, you may need to make changes to your day-to-day routine. Some questions you may want to ask your health care team include:
- Are there foods I should avoid?
- Is there medical equipment I will need to arrange to get or purchase?
- Are there skills I'll need to learn to take care of myself?
- Does my family know how to take care of me at home, if I cannot care for myself?
Do I have any follow-up appointments?
Be sure to ask where your follow-up appointments will be.
Who do I call if I have any questions once I've left Sunnybrook?
Your care team will provide you with any contact information you may need.
What to prepare
Your prescriptions
Before you leave the hospital, make sure you have all of your prescriptions, and that you know how to take all of your medications. Ask your health care team about any side effects you should know about.
Your belongings
Before leaving the hospital, make sure you have all of your belongings. Check with your nurse to make sure you aren't leaving anything behind!
Remember!
If at any time during your stay you have any questions or concerns about discharge, ask a member of your health care team. We are here to help and support you in your recovery.
