Discharge Procedures
Your health care team will help you plan your discharge. Make sure we are aware of any special needs or concerns that you have, and feel free to ask questions. If you need a “Return to Work" statement, please discuss this with your doctor before leaving the hospital. Ask your family or friends to take you home.
When you are discharged from Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, your health care team will tell you:
- About the illness or condition for which you were treated, and what to expect next in your treatment plan.
- Who your health care team is and how to contact them after you are discharged.
- Who to contact if you have questions concerning your medical care, prescription refills, scheduling, and billing.
- What things might improve or worsen your condition and what symptoms to report to your doctor or health care team.
- What activities you should and should not do.
- How to care for any tubes, dressings, catheters, or other special equipment.
- What treatments you should continue at home, how often, and for how long.
- What diet to follow and what foods to eat.
- What medications you should take, the dosage, how often you should take your medicines, what the medicines are for, and any possible side effects.
Be sure you have:
- A friend or family member who can help you with your care, if needed.
- A way to get home and to return for appointments.
- Supplies and equipment you will need at home.
- Your medicine and/or prescriptions.
- A follow-up clinic appointment if ordered by your doctor.
Healthcare Team
Your Healthcare Team is responsible for coordinating your medical care. After you are discharged, please contact them with your questions or concerns. You may also ask for a referral to a nurse or social worker if you have problems or need more care.
Insurance & Co-Payment Billing
VA is required by Congress to bill private health insurance companies for non-service connected treatment and to charge co-payments for inpatient hospital care and treatments, outpatient care, extended care, and medications. Co-payment amounts are set annually by Congress. If your insurance company pays for the cost of your stay, you will receive a credit toward your co-payment bill.
If you have questions about insurance or your bill, contact the Billing Office.
CHAMPVA and Tricare questions are handled by our Eligibility Section.
Medications
You can fill prescriptions for medicines that your doctor wants you to take at home at the Outpatient Pharmacy (near the Outpatient Clinic Entrance).
Your Money and Valuables
When you were admitted here, the Admitting Clerk collected any money and valuables you wanted safeguarded. These items were placed with the Patient Funds Clerk. When you leave you will need to collect your valuables directly from the Patient Funds Clerk.
Survey of Healthcare Experience of Patients
You may be contacted for feedback about your stay shortly after your discharge. Your comments will help us to continue to meet our goal of providing quality health care to our veteran patients and family. It is important that we have your correct phone number at time of discharge, especially if you will not be going to your own home.
For additional information about this survey and other tools, please visit our Customer Service page.
