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Discharge planning

Discharge from the hospital is something that everyone wants, but when the doctor starts to talk about discharge or mention a discharge date, questions and concerns can come to mind. Sometimes a family may not feel ready for discharge.
 
The Oncology, Hematology and BMT Program has a Discharge Planning Outreach Coordinator Nurse and other skilled nurses to help families prepare for discharge. The Discharge Nurse meets with all new families and as many others as time allows, as many days as possible before discharge:
  • to check that parents are learning the necessary skills,
  • to discuss what to expect when at home, and
  • to check specific concerns parents have about their child and situation.
Taking a newly diagnosed child home for the first time means that new family routines need to begin, and that is sometimes easier said than done.
 
At times there can be many different health care professionals involved in one child’s care. The Discharge Nurse helps to make sure that all the involved people are aware of the discharge date so that everyone is ready when the day comes. Information is passed along to the next set of health care professionals such as the BC Children’s Oncology Clinic outpatient staff or the home community doctor and nurse so that the transfer of care from one setting to another goes smoothly. 
 
A discharge summary is provided to all parents at the time of discharge.

An Outpatient Summary/Communication Log is used by both BC Children's outpatient clinic and the community hospitals to provide treatment and discharge information between centres.   

The discharge nurse works Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Parents are welcome to contact her with questions or comments.
 
Cecilia Lau, RN
Discharge Planning Coordinator
Phone: 604-875-2345 ext. 7626
e-mail: clau4@cw.bc.ca
For more information for families with children post hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, please see the following:
FAQ's about HSCT (PDF) - updated April 2007
Going Home Package - Allogeneic SCT (PDF) - updated June 2008
Going Home Package - Autologous SCT (PDF) - updated July 2008

Page updated October 2009