Planning for Discharge
We want to make your transition to home as smooth as possible. As part of your child’s healthcare team, you will participate in discharge planning and will learn about any care your child may need at home.
After Your Child’s Hospital Stay
Your care team will discuss discharge plans with you. Feel free to ask questions, such as:
- What goals does your child need to meet to be discharged?
- Can the team predict when you’ll be able to go home?
- What preparations will you need to make?
- We suggest you write down your questions as you think of them.
If your child’s hospital stay is short and uncomplicated, planning for discharge is a simple process. If the hospital stay is longer and more complicated, you may need to make special arrangements. We will help you every step of the way:
- If your child needs medicine at home, you can fill prescriptions in the hospital pharmacy, or we can fax them to your pharmacy before you leave.
- If your child needs special equipment or visits by a homecare nurse, we’ll provide a list of homecare companies approved by your insurance. We’ll work with you and the company you choose to make sure you have the equipment, supplies, medicines and support you need.
- We will provide training to help you feel confident that you can go home safely and that you know how to perform treatments or procedures your child might need at home.
After Your Child’s Surgery
You will be given written discharge instructions before you go home. The doctor and nurse will review general home care instructions with you, including:
- Eating and drinking
- Activity for the first 24 hours
- What to do for discomfort, pain or fever
- Possible behavior changes
- They also may discuss special instructions, such as medicine; follow-up appointments; bathing, bandaging and wound care; return to school or daycare, sports and other normal activities.
Feel free to ask questions. You might want to know more about:
- What to expect in the first few days
- How long it might take your child to recover
- Any discharge instructions you were given
- Problems to watch for or be concerned about
- Who to call in case of emergency
If you have concerns or questions at home:
- Call the doctor who did the procedure
- If you can’t reach the doctor, call Same Day Surgery to speak to a nurse:
Burnet Campus: 513-636-4517
Liberty Campus: 513-803-9820
