transcript

transcript  Determining Inappropriate Discharges to Shelter

Determining Inappropriate Discharges to Shelter Video Transcript

Determining inappropriate discharges to shelter.

Meet your patients, Robert and Maria. Review the following scenarios and determine whether or not the patient can be safely discharged to shelter. In all of the following scenarios, we will assume you have practiced housing problem solving and explored all alternatives to shelter, but were not able to identify a safe alternative. 

Robert, who was staying at a shelter prior to hospital admission, is recovering from serious health issues after a recent stroke and now needs support completing activities of daily living, such as using the restroom and bathing. SHould Robert be discharged to a shelter? Take a moment to think.

Robert should not be discharged to shelter because of his need for support to complete daily living activities. Shelters often do not have the staff capacity, space, or specialty staff to support this level of care. Discharge planners should review online resources and tools prior to contacting EHS Discharge Support to identify more appropriate long term care options.

Maria was staying at a local shelter before being admitted to a behavioral health facility one week ago. While at the facility, she had her medications adjusted and is now taking seven prescription drugs. She will be leaving the facility today and has been cleared by both her medical and psychiatric teams. Through multiple conversations with Maria and a case manager from the shelter, you have already determined that she does not have a place to go, but she has agreed to go back to the shelter and you have arranged for a bed. Could Maria be discharged to the shelter at this point in time? What else does Maria need before she can go to the shelter? Take a moment to think.

While Maria can be discharged to shelter, you should make sure to communicate with her health insurance plan and complete all the steps in the online decision tree. For example, she will need a written copy of her prescriptions and a week’s worth of filled prescriptions to take with her to the shelter. Maria also needs clear, written instructions on how to administer the medication.