Title: Discharge Destination Criteria Matrix
1 Discharge Destination Criteria Matrix
- Discharge Planning Patient Safety
- Patient Safety is one of HHS priorities.
Evidence shows that discharges that are scheduled
24 hours in advance are safer, with fewer
patients returning to the emergency room for
unscheduled visits and fewer patients requiring
unplanned readmissions. In addition to being
safer, patients and families report more
satisfaction with the discharge planning process
when discharges are scheduled at least a day
ahead. - Discharge planning should always begin by
exploring the possibility of the patient
returning home. - In some cases, however, post-acute care is
required. Above, please find the admission
criteria for the most frequently accessed
discharge destinations of HHS patients. This
information will assist you and the health care
team, in consultation with the patient/family to
determine the most appropriate discharge plan. - Your role in discharge planning
- As part of the inter-professional health care
team, your role is integral to ensuring that
patients move through the continuum of care in a
timely and efficient manner so that Hamilton
Health Sciences is able to provide access to
acute care for all community members.
For more information, please contact Susan
Taylor, Senior Consultant, Quality, Patient
Safety and Clinical Resource Management Hamilton
Health Sciences taylorsu_at_hhsc.ca
Cherilyn van Berkel, Transitional Care/Discharge
Specialist Hamilton Health Sciences
vanberk_at_hhsc.ca
Lori McCall, Occupational Therapist, Ward A3
Henderson Site Hamilton Health Sciences
mccallor_at_hhsc.ca