Planning to leave the hospital (discharge) begins soon after you are admitted. You are discharged when your health care team decides you no longer need medical care at the hospital.
We know that preparing for discharge can feel confusing and overwhelming. Your care team will work with you and your family to provide the best plan possible for your return home.
How does discharge work at UHN?
After you are admitted to the hospital, your health care team will work with you to plan your care goals and for the day when you leave the hospital. This is called your day of discharge.
You will find out your day of discharge within 1 to 2 days after being admitted. Knowing which day you will leave the hospital can help you and your family plan ahead. Your health care team can also arrange any follow-up care you may need in time for when you leave the hospital.
Once your acute care needs are met, UHN may move you to another unit or site within the UHN network. This will help ensure acute care beds are available for patients who need them most, and will allow you to continue planning for your discharge, in the most appropriate care setting.
Your health care team will keep you informed of any possible transfers.
No matter which site you are at, they will always help you prepare to leave the hospital.
Where will I go after I'm discharged?
Going home is the first choice for patients. If you need help when you return home, your UHN health care team will help you make those plans.
If you need care at home, Home and Community Care Support Services will talk to you about your care needs and any resources in the community that may be right for you. They may contact you virtually (by phone) or in person, depending on your situation. Ask your health care team for more information.
What if my needs can't be met at home?
If your needs cannot be met at home, your health care team will work with you to decide what type of facility can best provide the care you need. This could mean going to a care site that provides you with the supports you need before you move back into the community. A care site could include:
- inpatient rehabilitation
- a reintegration unit (RIU)
- a transitional care unit
- complex continuing care (CCC)
- convalescent care
- palliative care
- a hospital in your home community or the hospital you were sent to UHN from
If you are eligible for one or more of these care sites, your health care team will help you apply to and transfer there.
If your needs cannot be met at home for the longer term, your health care team will help you start the process of deciding whether you can apply to a care site such as a retirement home, supportive housing, or Long-Term Care (LTC), if you are eligible.
What do I need to do to prepare for discharge?
Once you know your discharge day, you must arrange your own transportation home. If you need help, ask your health care team for a list of phone numbers for travel options, such as an ambulance, taxi or wheelchair-accessible taxi.
On your day of discharge, you will be moved out of your room by 10:00 am. You can wait on the unit, outside of your room, until your transportation arrives.
Your health care team will complete your discharge paperwork before you leave.
Note: UHN does not pay for your transportation to leave the hospital.
Who do I contact if I have questions about leaving the hospital?
Speak with any member of your care team. They are here to support you.
