Going Home

Our Team approach to your healthcare continues when it is time to go home. When the decision is made for your discharge, your doctor will write discharge orders. Your instructions will include a diet, activity level, any follow up appointments, special instructions and a list of the medications to take at home.

Medications:

Your nurse will obtain a list of the medications you currently take at home. Your doctor will review the list and order the medications he/she wants you to take in addition to other medications while in the hospital. This process is called "Medication Reconciliation".

The same activity occurs at the time of discharge. Your doctor will review the medications you taking in the hospital, in addition to other medications, and write orders for the medications he/she wants you to take at home. Your nurse will review all the medications with you; provide written information and a list of your medications including a medication card for your wallet. Your doctor's office will also receive a copy of the medications.

Additional services at home or as an outpatient service:

As members of the Team, the case manager and social worker will make arrangements for continued care in your home or as an outpatient. Examples of home services may be a nurse, a physical or occupational therapist, or a social worker coming into your home for a short time after your discharge. Outpatient services may include physical or occupational therapy at one of the local therapy businesses.

Follow- up telephone call after your discharge:

At the time of discharge, you will be given the nursing unit's phone number to call should you have any questions about your discharge instructions. We encourage you to call to clear up any part of your discharge instructions that you are not sure of. Within 48 hours of your discharge, you will receive a telephone call from a nurse. While they will ask you general questions of your recuperation, this also can be an opportunity for you to ask questions. You may be directed to call your doctor for things that only he/she can answer.

Patient Satisfaction Survey:

Shortly after returning home you will receive a survey in the mail from Press Ganey, the nation's leading evaluator of patient satisfaction. This is your opportunity to tell us about your visit - the food you ate, the service you received, the care we gave, your wait time…even things like the air temperature of your room and the comfort of your bed. We want your stay with us to promote your journey to health on every level.

These surveys aren't just collected and stored away. A team of VRH directors reviews each patient's experience to identify way of improving. Your voices drive our goal for medical excellence and patient-centered care every day.