Discharge Planning (Downtown)

Medical Social Services

Issues that accompany illness and hospitalization can seem overwhelming. These issues can range from the fear and stress of dealing with an illness to the need to arrange for follow-up care. Whatever the issues may be, our social workers can help you find the answers. The staff assists both inpatients and outpatients and their families with many decisions they may face during and after an illness or hospitalization. Services include discharge planning, making arrangements for home health services, medical equipment, community services, transportation, counseling, and information and referral.

For information, call 202.1319 between 8 am and 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, or ask your nurse to call the social worker for you. After hours, ask your nurse to contact the on-call social worker.

Going Home

Your physician will write your discharge orders. After your nurse reviews the discharge instructions with you, you will receive a signed copy to take home. You may then have to wait for test results, which could impact your exact discharge time.

Please talk with your nurse prior to making arrangements to go home. A patient escort will assist you with your discharge and take you by wheelchair to the front entrance. Please take all of your belongings with you.