DISCHARGE PLANNING

Planning for your discharge may begin upon admission to the Hospital to ensure continuity of care.  The combined knowledge of nursing, social services, physical therapy, occupational therapy and dietary personnel is available to help patients and their families identify post-Hospital health and wellness needs.  You, your physician, or your family may request discharge-planning services by contacting the Hospital’s Discharge Planning Department or your nurse.

Patients should plan to leave the hospital by 11:00 a.m. on the day of their discharge.  The information listed below will help you plan for your discharge.  If you have any question, please contact your nurse.

We wish you well and thank you for letting us care for you.  Please let us know if you have any suggestions about how we can make things better.

HOME HEALTH & SUPPORTIVE CARE

Home health, hospice and supportive care arrangements for services are coordinated through discharge planning to provide post-discharge services as needed with the agency of your choice.

MEALS

The Dietary Department provides menus to all patients which offer you a choice of foods in accordance with the diet prescribed by your doctor. A representative from the dietary staff visits you daily with a printed menu from which you select meals for the next day. 

If you have special preferences or problems about your meals, ask that a dietician visit you. The dietician will work with you and your doctor in developing a menu that is satisfying to you as well as medically correct. 

Your visitors may eat with you in your room by arranging for a visitor tray through the main office located on first floor. There is a charge for these visitor trays. Meal times are - 8:00 a.m. breakfast; Noon lunch; and 5:00 p.m. dinner. 

SPIRITUAL SUPPORT/CHAPLAIN SERVICES

Chaplain services are provided daily upon request of the patient.  The Chaplain is available to provide spiritual support or to serve as a liaison with your personal spiritual advisor.  A Chaplain is on call at all times.  Please ask your nurse for more details.  In addition to Chaplain services, a chapel is located off the main lobby to serve patient and visitor needs.  

Patient Education

Among the many services offered are diabetic education, cardiac rehabilitation, smoking cessation, RTS Bereavement, diet and medication counseling, preparation for surgery and diagnostic tests, discharge planning and teaching, and assistance with Medicare and other insurance.

RESPITE

For those families caring for an elderly or disabled relative, The Richland Hospital offers the availability of temporary care to persons needing supervised, short-term personalized care so that regular caregivers can take a break. These services are through prior arrangement only by contacting either the Discharge Planner or Clinical Coordinator. A pre-admission nursing assessment for the purpose of determining level of care and appropriateness for respite services must be done prior to your arrival at the hospital.

SWING BED

There are times when a patient will have recovered from the acute phase of an illness, but still requires skilled nursing or rehabilitative care for a limited time. Since it is our goal to provide care to a patient from the acute phase of an illness until he/she is ready to go home, we may be able to provide this care through our Swing Bed Program. Though not a substitute for long term care such as that provided in a nursing home, for short term recuperative or rehabilitative stays until skilled care is no longer necessary, it can be a valuable alternative to a nursing home stay. The Discharge Planner can be contacted for additional information.

WHAT TO BRING

For your stay at the hospital you should bring:

· Health insurance identification card

· Current medication lists to include specific allergies

· Pajamas, gown, robe, and slippers

· Your own hygiene/grooming aids

· Books, magazines, paper, and pen

· Advance directives if you have them

· There may be other personal comfort items that you may desire