Today our topic of discussion is Discharge Proccess.
Discharge Proccess
DISCHARGE
Discharge planning begins when the client is admitted. whether it is the hospital, home care, or any other treatment program. The client, and when appropriate, the family must be involved in this process for it to be successful.
The patient who is voluntarily admitted to the hospital can leave at any time. The voluntarily admitted patient can be discharged by the staff when maximum benefit has been received from the treatment. Voluntary patients also may request discharge.
Two key factors in deciding to release a voluntary psychiatric patient are:
- Assessment of the patient’s competency
- Assessment of the patient’s potential danger to self or others
An involuntarily admitted patient has lost the right to leave the hospital when he or she wishes. If a committed patient leaves before discharge, the staff has the legal obligation to notify the police and courts.
Discharge of Voluntary Patient
Patients admitted on voluntary basis, if they request for discharge are obliged to be discharged by the medical officer in charge within 24 hours of receiving the request, provided the medical officer is convinced that the discharge will not harm the interest of the voluntary patient. In such case, the medical officer would constitute a board of two medical officers and seek their opinion.
If the board is of the opinion that such voluntary patient needs further treatment in the psychiatric hospital/psychiatric nursing home, the medical officer shall not discharge the voluntary patient but continue his treatment for a period not exceeding 90 days at a time.