Being discharged from the hospital

[Mary Mallozziberg]

When people have recovered sufficiently or can be appropriately treated elsewhere, they are discharged from the hospital.
To determine when people should be discharged, the doctor weighs the risk of developing a problem due to being in the hospital (such as getting an infection) against the benefits of being treated in the hospital.
If people can be appropriately treated outside the hospital, it is usually better for them to be at home, even if the illness that brought them to the hospital has not yet completely resolved.
People can complete their treatment outside of the hospital if

They are able to take food, water, and drugs by mouth.
They can obtain the prescribed drugs.
Their pain is reduced to tolerable levels (but not necessarily completely relieved) by drugs.
They can move around their residence and care for themselves or have the help needed to do so.
Their condition no longer requires advanced daily monitoring with hospital equipment.
Follow-up appointments with their doctors have been arranged.

Before discharge from the hospital, staff members may evaluate people