Discharge Lounge CUH

Operational Policies April 2006

The transfer /discharge lounge is being introduced as a pilot project as part of the initiatives in dealing with Emergency Department overcrowding.

It is being established to facilitate patients vacating ward beds earlier in the day following discharge.

It will also accommodate patients who have been discharged from the Emergency Department awaiting transport.

The transfer /discharge lounge will be located in the old emergency department on the ground floor
Hours of opening: 08.00 hrs – 17.30 hrs. Last patients accepted to transfer /discharge lounge is 16.00hrs- Monday to Thursday and 15:00hrs of Fridays
Discharge Lounge is closed on Saturdays and Sundays

2 General Trained Nurses.
- 1 Nurse to work 08.00hrs - 16.30hrs Monday to Thursday. 08.00 – 15.30 hrs on Friday
- 1 Nurse to work 09.00hrs – 17.30hrs Monday to Thursday. 09.00 -16:30 hrs on Friday
- 1 Housekeeper
- 1 Porter

Patients who no longer require medical care and who have been discharged by the medical team.
- This does not include patients who are medically discharged but have complex discharge issues
Patients who are for transfer to other hospitals, for whom the ambulance has been booked and confirmed

Print version of agreed policy includes responsibilities of general ward and discharge lounge staff

To identify patients on the afternoon round to the discharge lounge staff whose discharge is planned for the following day
To identify patients on the morning round for discharge that morning
To identify potential discharges for that afternoon
To identify to radiology /phlebotomy/ laboratories the patients that require pre discharge prioritisation
To prioritise personal cares for those patients suitable for transfer to the discharge lounge
To have patients ready to transfer by 09.30hrs
To ensure that all relevant documentation is complete
To ensure that the patient and family have been informed
To ensure that all patient identification bands are in place
To ensure that any oral medication the patient requires prior to discharge is transferred to the discharge lounge with the patient
To ensure that any ambulance required for transfer to another agency is booked prior to transfer to the transfer /discharge lounge
To ensure that the patient is transferred on screen to the discharge lounge
To transfer all notes /x-rays/ including nursing notes and drug prescription charts to the Transfer /Discharge Lounge
In the event of discharge documentation not being complete, the patient can be transferred and the relevant team contacted from the transfer /discharge lounge
To commence the discharge checklist
To telephone the transfer /discharge lounge as patients are ready for transfer