Health Encyclopedia

Discharge Planning

Discharge Planning

Discharge planning helps to make sure that people leave a hospital or other health care setting safely and smoothly and get the right care after that. Discharge happens when a certain level of care is no longer needed.

A discharge planner is in charge of this planning. This person could be an administrator, a social worker, a doctor, or a nurse. The title of this person may not be the same at different health care settings.

Last Revised: December 18, 2012

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine

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