Discharging Patients

An Essential Component for Recovery

From the first day of admission, Walden staff works closely with patients' families and their physicians to develop successful discharge plans that ensure smooth transistion to other levels of care or back in to the community.

Walden works with each patient and family member to implement the plan. When discharge back into the community takes place, an outpatient team or therapist ensures that the patient will continue to receive the care needed to prevent a relapse and ensure lasting recovery.

Walden works with health insurance carriers or managed-care organizations to advocate on clients' behalves when continuing treatment is needed. Insurance carriers understand discharge planning and collaborate with Walden staff to plan the optimum treatment needed for recovery.

Walden staff can help by:

• Arranging outpatient appointments
• Identifying a primary care physician, if needed, to handle all medical issues
• Providing partial hospitalization to ensure that the patient is monitored regularly and continues to receive needed treatment.

Walden also recognizes that discharge creates challenges not only for the patient, but for the family. Early preparation is essential. Discharge plans need to be flexible and are modified when circumstances change.