Patient-Centered Discharge Planning in Acute Care

Course overview

Patient-centered discharge planning (PCDP) is a series of interrelated processes that involves the patient, their family, and the healthcare team in preparing for a safe and smooth transition from acute care to post-acute care (PAC) settings or home. It aims to address the patient's needs, preferences, goals, and resources, as well as to provide them with relevant information and education about their condition, medications, follow-up appointments, and self-care. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has implemented requirements from the IMPACT Act to give patients and their families access to information that will help them make informed decisions about their post-acute care and promote the smooth transfer of a patient's information after discharge from one healthcare setting to the next.