Adult Medical Emergency Handbook - Scottish Intensive Care Society

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GOOD PRACTICE FOR DISCHARGING PATIENTS
• Discharge is an extremely important part of patient care.
• Planning of discharges should begin early in the patient’s admission.
A patient’s suitability for discharge will depend on:
• Medical Condition: is the patient stable and can further
investigation or treatment be completed as an out-patient?
• Functional Ability: is the patient independent or dependent on
others?
• Social Situation: does the patient live alone or are there carers?
If there is any doubt about a patient’s ability to manage at home, a
MULTIDISCIPLINARY ASSESSMENT should be performed. This will
usually involve physiotherapy, occupational therapy and social work.
Procedure
• An expected date of discharge form is in use across Lothian.
• At least 6 hours before discharge of any patient you should use
the patient’s Prescription and Administration Record and Case
Notes to help complete the Summary Form.
• Fill in the Patient Discharge Information Summary with as much
information as you can.
• Fill in an OPD Appointment Card with Clinic Name and
approximate date of attendance.
• In some units the ward secretary or housekeeper will arrange
appointments.
• Write in the Case Notes: Date of admission (DOA)
Date of discharge (DOD)
Diagnoses
Any other relevant details
Relevant Ix, Rx, changes to Rx
Follow-up
• The medication on Discharge (see below) should be checked
with a more senior member of medical staff. You must complete
this accurately.
• Leave in the agreed place for checking by a Pharmacist where this
service is available.
• Give the nurses the discharge letter to arrange supply of discharge
medications where appropriate and place the notes with summary
form in the appropriate place. Give appointment card to ward
clerkess.
adult medical emergencies handbook | NHS LOTHIAN: UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS DIVISION | 2009/11
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