Discharge Information

Planning for Discharge from the Hospital

Our goal is to provide you with the very best care to improve your health while you are with us. It is important this care continues after you leave the hospital. From the moment you were admitted to the hospital, we began working with your team on your discharge plan so that you have the care and support you need to continue to your recovery as you leave the hospital. We have a discharge planning checklist to help you navigate the discharge process.

The first step begins when your providers have visited with you and communicated that you are ready for discharge that day. Your provider will place your discharge order in the computer which initiates the start of the discharge process.
Next, while your care team starts processing your discharge, you will want to contact your family or caregiver to set up your transportation. If you do not have someone to pick you up on the day of discharge, talk to someone on your care team. They will help arrange transportation for the day. If you are transferring from Shannon Medical Center to another facility, your care team will also arrange transportation that will meet your care needs.
If you are needing any medical or assistive equipment at discharge, our care team will order and arrange for delivery of equipment to your preferred location.
Your prescriptions ordered by your care team will be delivered to your room before you leave, and you should know how to take all your medications. Ask your health care team about any side effects you should know about.
The last and final step of the discharge process is reviewing your discharge instructions. Your care team will review all future follow-up appointments, any new medication and any discharge instructions needed for home. Education will be provided to you and your family for any skills needed at home.

When planning for your discharge, please make sure and share any concerns or questions with your care team. If there is any other information you’d like to know please ask. We are here to help support you in your recovery.

After You Are Discharged from the Hospital

After you are discharged from the hospital, it’s important to carefully follow all of the instructions from your healthcare provider. If you have a question about your follow-up care or are concerned about problems, please give us a call. You can call your provider’s office or use our “Ask a Nurse” Hotline. This free hotline is staffed by Shannon RNs and is available 24/7 to answer any questions or concerns. You can reach it at 325.747.5365.

Make sure to keep all of your follow-up appointments. When you go to an appointment, be ready to share how you are feeling and be ready with any questions or concerns. Bring copies of any tests results or new medications prescribed while in the hospital. You may have been given important instructions to follow, such as weighing yourself daily, or doing certain exercises to speed your recovery. Please bring along any information your provider asked you to write down at home, such as weight or blood pressure logs.

Let family members or friends be a part of your recovery after discharge. They may be able to pick up medications or take you to appointments. They may remember things that you forget about symptoms, problems, or questions you want to ask. This can help you ensure a smoother recovery after discharge.

MyChart Symptom Checker

Shannon’s MyChart offers a free Symptom Checker tool available 24/7 to help direct you to next steps for care. This interactive web tool allows you to list your symptoms and then provides you with information about these symptoms along with recommendations for the most appropriate care options. It might provide education for self-care for less severe symptoms, recommend a video visit with a provider through Shannon OnDemand, advise you to visit an Urgent Care Clinic or to make a doctor’s appointment, or direct you to the nearest Emergency Department.

To get started, visit this link: MyChart - Symptom Checker (shannonhealth.org)

“Ask a Nurse” 24/7 Hotline

The Shannon "Ask A Nurse" Hotline is a free service that provides callers with medical advice from a Registered Nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All of the Nurses are Registered Nurses at Shannon and can help callers by:

answering medical questions
providing medical advice
directing callers to the most appropriate healthcare option
providing information on healthcare resources in the community and services available at Shannon

If a caller has symptoms and is unsure if their need is emergent, the Nurse can provide them guidance on what to do next and if they should be seen in the Emergency Department, Urgent Care Clinic or by their Primary Care Provider. If the caller needs to see a primary care provider and does not have one, the nurse can also help facilitate connecting them with a PCP.

Call our free "Ask A Nurse" Hotline at 325.747.5365

Remember, if you or your child is experiencing a life-threatening situation, you should call 911 or go to a hospital emergency department right away.