When your physician feels that you are ready to leave the hospital, he or she will authorize a hospital discharge. Please speak with your nurse about our discharge procedures.

Prior to discharge, you may be visited by a financial counselor to discuss your insurance status and financial responsibilities. It is our policy to collect deductibles, co-pays, and/or estimated coinsurance amounts at this time. For questions regarding your hospital bill or to apply for financial assistance, call the financial counselor at 941.782.2167. Here are a few tips to make the discharge process run smoothly:

• Be sure you and/or your caregiver has spoken with a case manager if needs are anticipated after discharge and that you understand what services you may need after leaving the hospital. (See Don’t Leave Until…  for more discharge advice.)
• Verify your discharge date and time with your nurse or physician in order for you to make arrangements for transportation in advance. We ask that you leave your hospital room as soon as possible after you have been discharged and have received discharge instructions from your nurse, as other patients may be awaiting admission. We recommend that a support person be present for your discharge instructions when possible and to drive you home. Your driver can accompany you to the main entrance and pull the car up to the circular drive to pick you up. Vehicles cannot be left unattended. Please note that if you have received anesthesia within the last 24 hours, you will need to make transportation arrangements in advance as you will not be able to drive home.
• Make sure you or your caregiver have all necessary paperwork for billing, referrals, prescriptions, etc.
  

When You Are Discharged

Your physician determines when you are ready to be discharged. Your physician and nurse will give you discharge instructions and answer any questions you have about managing your treatment and medications once you are home. If you are confused or unsure about what you need to do, what medications you must take, or if you have to restrict your diet or activities, don’t be afraid to ask and take notes.

Be sure you understand any instructions you have been given before you leave the hospital. 

• Make sure you have all of your personal belongings
• Make a list 
• Educate yourself
• Speak up!
  

Letter From the CNO

I want to thank you for entrusting us with your health during your recent hospitalization.

Because we continue to care about your health even after you leave our hospital, we may check in with you up to two times after your discharge. If you had an overnight stay, you will receive a brief automated follow-up call from our hospital within 24 to 48 hours. This call is to ensure your transition home was safe and to learn if you have any questions regarding your care. This call may appear on your caller ID as coming from CONNECT or from Lakewood Ranch Medical Center. If your responses to the automated call indicate you have questions or concerns, you will be called back by a member of our nursing team as soon as possible.

Three to five days after your discharge, you may receive a survey via mail or email regarding your stay at our facility. Your responses to this survey allow us to improve our services and make certain your stay was the best possible. Your responses to both surveys are important, and we appreciate you taking the time to complete each of them.

Sincerely, 

Judy Young, Chief Nursing Officer