Why is 2 p.m. discharge important?

• Ensures rooms are available for patients admitted from the Emergency Care Center and coming from Surgery.
• Reduces overcrowding in the Emergency Care Center
• Reduces back ups in the PACU.
• Reduces or eliminates delays for surgery or other medical procedures.
• Makes patients, families and physicians happier.
• Puts the patient first.
• Reduces the need for diversions to other hospitals.
• Maximizes the efforts of caregivers by allowing the same staff to care for more patients.
• Improves quality of care.

What can you do?

• Write discharge orders by 12 noon.
• Write discharge orders the day before discharge is expected, when possible. Discharge summaries can be dictated and put in an addendum for the next day. (If the patient does not go home, you already have 90% of the discharge summary complete in advance of discharge.)
• Work with the discharge planning staff from the first day of admission to set a discharge date.
• Tell our great caregivers what the next day’s plan of care is for each patient.

What are nurses doing?

• Nurses will discuss your plans for each patient for the following day, along with anticipating needs.
• Nurses will round with attending physicians and be with you while you are in patient rooms to learn from you. (This is good discharge planning and a great opportunity for collaboration among key members of our health care team. It also will improve service and communication with our patients.)

What is in it for me?

• Makes patients and families happier.
• Makes your life easier and your rounds quicker.
• Frees afternoons for new admissions.
• Makes you more efficient.