What do discharge planners plan? Implications for older Medicare patients.

This research examines the discharge-planning process, specifically assessing the extent to which components critical to effective discharge planning are implemented in acute-care settings. We surveyed 16 discharge planners in rural and metropolitan hospitals. The analysis examined the degree to which discharge-planning programs incorporate client-centered planning activities, collect information about the client's care deficits, use community services to support the client on discharge, and the extent of interdepartment involvement in discharge planning. Results indicated that the majority of planners were client centered in their planning; however, a complete assessment of the client's resources and care deficits did not occur on admission. We discuss implications for discharge planning.