Part Four Discharge Planning Workshop: Four-Part Webinar Series (ODPT4W5034)-Discharge Planning Workshop, Part Four Presentation

Discharge Planning Workshop, Part Four Presentation

Pdf Summary

The "Case Management Discharge Planning Workshop for Acute Care Hospitals" webinar, led by Toni Cesta, PhD, RN, FAAN, and Bev Cunningham, MS, RN, focuses on the essential components and best practices of discharge planning within acute care settings. Key topics include the multidisciplinary nature of discharge planning involving discharge planners, physicians, nurses, and therapists, with an emphasis on starting discharge planning as early as possible—ideally within the first 24 to 72 hours of admission per Conditions of Participation guidelines.<br /><br />The session covers regulatory frameworks impacting discharge planning, such as the Conditions of Participation and the IMPACT Act, which mandates inclusion of quality data reporting from post-acute care providers like skilled nursing facilities, rehab facilities, home health agencies, and durable medical equipment companies. The webinar highlights the updated requirements to incorporate patient goals, treatment preferences, and support system involvement in discharge decisions, aiming to boost patient satisfaction, reduce care delays, and improve outcomes.<br /><br />Several case studies illustrate practical challenges: prioritizing discharge needs based on patient acuity; navigating patient refusals of higher-level care despite risks; guiding patients and families in selecting appropriate skilled nursing facilities with consideration of quality metrics; and addressing social determinants of health (SDOH). For example, the workshop discusses how environmental factors such as food deserts and air pollution can exacerbate chronic conditions, affecting discharge planning and community resource linkage.<br /><br />Overall, the workshop reinforces that effective discharge planning is a collaborative, patient-centered process requiring early initiation, interdisciplinary coordination, attention to social and behavioral determinants, transparent information sharing, and compliance with evolving regulatory mandates to ensure safe transitions from hospital to post-acute care.

Keywords

Case Management

Discharge Planning

Acute Care Hospitals

Multidisciplinary Collaboration

Conditions of Participation

IMPACT Act

Patient-Centered Care

Post-Acute Care Providers

Social Determinants of Health

Quality Data Reporting