Your Discharge/Going Home

Discharge Planning

Discharge planning begins the day you come to the hospital. However, patients are not discharged until they are ready to move on to the next level of care. Keep in mind that this hospital is an acute care facility whose function is to get you safely through the first phase of your illness. After that, other convalescent settings may be indicated such as our transitional care center, another skilled facility or home care.

Social Service

Our social service department assists, without charge, any patient or family who may have personal, family, or financial problems that arise out of illness. The social service worker is aware of the various resources for help in the community and will assist in finding a nursing facility, arrange for home visits, or locate other services needed by the patient. Your physician or nurse may arrange for a social service worker to visit with you, or you and your family may request a visit from the hospital social worker at any time.

Utilization Review

Government regulations and contracts through insurance and accreditation bodies require hospitals to have a utilization review committee. The committee reviews patient stays for appropriateness for acute care in a hospital such as Warren General Hospital. The committee also monitors the length of hospital stays. The stay must not be longer than necessary for the care of the patient’s medical problems. This makes it very important that you leave on the day that you are discharged. Your insurance will not pay for the days that you remain in the hospital after your physician has discharged you. Questions may be directed to the Utilization Review Department, at ext. 1789.

Going Home

Before leaving, be sure to:

• • Gather all belongings, including valuables left in the hospital safe
• • Check with your nurse who will explain any prescriptions, appointments, or follow-up outpatient procedures your physician has arranged for you
• • Ask any questions you may have about your illness or your follow-up care

Leaving the Hospital

There is no specified discharge time. Discharge can occur any time that your physician authorizes. If you require additional care, several options are available and will be discussed with you prior to your leaving the hospital. Warren General Hospital is pleased to offer the Transitional Care Center and Home Health Services to you if requested by your physician.

Transitional Care Center

TCC provides a bridge between the highly sophisticated acute care hospital stay and the home setting. The goal is to help you become as independent as possible by providing the appropriate and necessary treatments, therapies and support you need. This 16-bed skilled nursing facility is conveniently located on the second floor of Warren General Hospital. Its design allows patients who require skilled nursing care to continue their recovery in a more home-like setting.

Home Health Care Services

Skilled Nursing - A registered nurse assesses each patient’s care needs and with the patient’s help, develops and manages the plan of care in coordination with our multidisciplinary team. This includes periodic skilled assessment, coordination, and education related to patient care needs. All nursing services are provided by licensed professionals as directed by the patient’s physician. Services are available seven days a week and holidays, including on-call availability. Dressing-Wound Care; IV/Antibiotic Therapy; Catheter Care; Medication Teaching; Chemotherapy; Blood Pressure Monitoring; Pain Management;Comprehensive Patient Teaching; Diabetes Management; Cardiac Assessment and Teaching; Respiratory Assessment and Teaching

Maternal Child Health Program - Our qualified maternal child health nurse makes the first home visit 24-48 hours after mother arrives home with baby. Our nurse gives careful attention to mother and baby and continues teaching childcare and breastfeeding begun in the hospital. Our nurse is available to respond to mothers with questions and concerns about caring for their babies.

Mental Health Program - The focus of our mental health program is to help the patient acclimate to home and community after hospitalization. The accessibility of our certified psychiatric nurse helps to reduce readmission or relapse due to emotional difficulties. The nurse provides professional support to the patient dealing with depression, adjustment problems and psychiatric disabilities based on an individually designed plan of care.

Physical and Occupational Therapy, Speech/Language Pathology - Physical therapists work with patients to help them regain strength and the ability to live as independently as possible following illness, injury or surgery. Occupational therapists help patients build or regain their abilities to perform the tasks of independent living. Speech/language pathologists evaluate and treat speech disorders caused by stroke or illness.

Enterostomal Therapy Nursing - The certified wound, continence and ostomy therapy nurse specializes in the care of patients with an ostomy, wounds, or incontinence difficulties due to bowel or bladder surgery. Our nurse assists patients and health professionals in choosing clinically effective products and therapies at the most reasonable cost.

Home Health Aides - Certified home health aides complement nursing care by providing personal care services including bathing, dressing, grooming, transferring and ambulation.

Social Services - Our social workers counsel patients and families to help them cope with the social, emotional and economical challenges that a medical condition can pose.

Health Education

The entire Warren General Hospital staff welcomes you to ask questions regarding any testing, medication, or treatments you receive during your stay. We believe that educating our patients, their families, and loved ones is one of the most effective methods of preventing increased illness, suffering, and expense. Our patients are our own family, friends, and neighbors. We want to keep you well because we are all members of the same community.

Available Educational Resources

Our professional staff will assist you with understanding your diagnosis, your medications, and any skills required to insure your progress towards health. We will provide bedside training by registered nurses, physicians, and therapists. Also written handouts, home video, and live demonstrations are available. Also, we can provide ongoing support after discharge. Many programs are available:

Diabetes Teaching; Home Health Care Services; Prostate Support; Cancer Support; Organ Donor/Transplant Support; Pregnancy Classes; Mental Health Support; Cardiac Rehabilitation

Behavioral Health Cancer Care Dental Clinic Detox Diabetes and Nutrition Emergency Care Home Health Care Hospice Imaging Services Laboratory Lifeline Medical/Surgical Units Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Pain Management Pastoral Care/Chaplain Pharmacy Rehab Works Respiratory Sleep Center Support Groups Surgical Services Transitional Care Women’s Health Wound Care