What to expect before discharge from Brookhaven

Best first step: Before leaving, ask staff to review your discharge instructions, final medication list, safety plan, follow-up appointments, transportation plan, and belongings record.

• Discharge planning may start early, but final discharge depends on care-team review and patient needs.
• Before leaving, ask for clear written instructions about medications, safety planning, follow-up care, and when to seek help.
• Transportation, pharmacy pickup, support-person involvement, and home safety may be part of the discharge plan.
• Stored belongings, restricted items, valuables, and home medications should be reviewed before the patient leaves.
• Support people may be involved when the patient agrees or when legal authority applies.
• Do not leave without telling staff if transportation, medication access, housing, or safety support changes before discharge is complete.

• Where the patient will go after discharge.
• Who can provide transportation or support.
• Whether follow-up appointments are needed.
• Whether medications need to be continued, changed, or filled.
• Whether safety planning or home safety steps are needed.
• Whether outpatient therapy, psychiatry, primary care, or a higher level of care is recommended.
• Whether family, caregivers, guardians, or support people should be involved.

Review area	What the team may confirm
Symptoms and safety	Whether immediate safety concerns are managed and what warning signs should be watched after discharge.
Medication plan	Which medications are new, changed, continued, stopped, or need refill planning.
Follow-up care	Whether therapy, psychiatry, medication review, primary care, or another service is scheduled or recommended.
Transportation	Whether the patient has a safe way home and whether the pickup person is approved.
Home support	Whether support people, housing, safety steps, medication pickup, or practical needs are in place.

• Diagnosis or reason for care, when included.
• Medication instructions and pharmacy information.
• Safety plan and warning signs.
• Follow-up appointments or scheduling instructions.
• What to do if symptoms return or worsen.
• Who to contact for routine questions.
• When to use crisis, urgent care, or emergency services.
• Restrictions, activity guidance, or care-team recommendations.

1. Ask which medications are new.
2. Ask which medications changed dose, timing, or instructions.
3. Ask which medications should be stopped.
4. Ask whether any home medications should not be restarted.
5. Confirm where prescriptions were sent.
6. Ask when the next dose should be taken.
7. Ask what side effects should be reported.
8. Ask who manages refills after discharge.

Ask before leaving: What should I do first if I feel unsafe, symptoms return, or I cannot follow the discharge plan at home?

• Warning signs to watch for.
• Coping steps to try first.
• Support people to contact.
• Medication safety instructions.
• Home safety steps or items to secure.
• Crisis contacts and emergency instructions.
• What to do if follow-up is delayed.

• Therapy or counseling appointments.
• Psychiatry or medication-management appointments.
• Primary care or medical follow-up.
• Intensive outpatient or partial hospitalization referrals.
• Community support, case management, or crisis follow-up.
• Transportation or telehealth needs.
• What to do if the first appointment is missed or delayed.

• Confirm the discharge time and pickup location.
• Confirm who is picking the patient up.
• Ask whether the pickup person needs photo ID.
• Ask whether the pickup person can receive discharge instructions.
• Ask whether the patient should stop at the pharmacy before going home.
• Ask what to do if the ride is delayed or canceled.
• Ask whether driving, rideshare, public transportation, or medical transportation is appropriate.

• Review the belongings record, if available.
• Check clothing, shoes, bags, wallet, keys, phone, charger, glasses, and personal items.
• Ask about stored valuables or restricted items.
• Ask about medications brought from home.
• Ask what to do if an item cannot be returned immediately.
• Report missing or damaged items before leaving when possible.

Important: Being listed as a visitor, emergency contact, or pickup person does not automatically allow someone to receive medication information, treatment details, safety-plan information, or discharge records.

• Ask what information can be shared with support people.
• Ask whether the patient has authorized a support person.
• Ask whether a release, proxy setting, or legal document is needed.
• Ask whether a support person should join discharge teaching.
• Ask whether a family meeting or care conference is needed before discharge.

• Symptoms or safety concerns changed.
• Medication review is not complete.
• Follow-up care is not available or needs a different plan.
• Transportation was delayed or canceled.
• The patient no longer has a safe place to go.
• Support-person involvement needs clarification.
• Legal, privacy, guardianship, or placement questions need review.
• The patient asks for more help before leaving.

Do not wait for a portal reply, routine callback, or scheduled follow-up if the concern affects immediate safety, discharge today, medication access, transportation, or whether the patient can safely leave.

• If the patient is still at Brookhaven, tell the assigned nurse or nearest staff member immediately.
• If transportation or housing is no longer safe, tell staff before leaving.
• If medication is missing and the patient may miss an important dose, contact the pharmacy and care team directly.
• If the patient feels unsafe or may harm themselves or someone else, seek immediate help.
• If the patient has a medical emergency, use emergency services.