Niagara Health wants to ensure that your admission and discharge go smoothly. When you are admitted to hospital, your healthcare team will begin planning for your discharge to ensure your care needs are co-ordinated before you leave.
Important Discharge Information
Our focus is not only on your care and treatment while in hospital, but also on your discharge from the hospital. We start planning for your discharge as soon as possible to help ensure that the appropriate services are in place, if needed, when you leave. You will receive your expected date of discharge in discussion with your team. Please ask if you do not receive it or are unclear about the discharge process. We request your assistance with your discharge and ask that you or your family make arrangements for you to be picked up by 10 a.m. on your scheduled discharge day. They should bring any necessary items (clothes, shoes, etc.) so that you are comfortable when you leave.
Although every effort is made to accurately predict the day of discharge, you should be prepared for discharge to occur a day earlier than planned. We encourage you to ask questions about your discharge and what to do when you get home. We want you to feel prepared and confident. If you have any questions about your discharge, please talk to your healthcare team.
Tips for ensuring you are discharged smoothly
- We recommend you plan your ride home with family or friends to avoid having to pay for transportation services. If you are not able to arrange transportation, the hospital will help you make arrangements at your cost.
- There are private transportation services available that usually need to be booked 24 hours in advance. The Discharge Planning Department can provide further information.
- You will be required to pay for your own transportation when you are discharged home.
- If you are transitioning to another Niagara Health site or healthcare setting, Niagara Health will arrange and pay for your transportation.
Please note: We cannot hold beds to accommodate delayed travel arrangements.
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Planning for your discharge
At the earliest opportunity, you and your healthcare team will begin planning for your discharge. Most patients return home when they are discharged. Your healthcare team will work with you to address any special needs you may have when you leave the hospital. Any prescriptions and follow-up appointments will be given on the day of your discharge. Please arrange transportation hom...Read more » -
Home First
Home First is an approach to planning what happens when you no longer need hospital care, but still require care and support to safely return home. The goal of Home First is to get you back home as quickly and safely as possible, and help you stay there until you’re ready to make a decision about the future. It’s better to be home You are receiving hospital care because you are ill, inj...Read more » -
Time of Discharge
Please be prepared to leave the hospital by 10 a.m. on your scheduled discharge day. We ask that you or your family make the necessary arrangements for you to be picked up by 10 a.m. Every effort is made to accurately predict the day of discharge; however, you should be prepared for your discharge to occur earlier or later than planned. Your healthcare team will keep you up-to-date on a...Read more » -
Pharmacies
Before you leave Niagara Health, you may take your prescription to one of the following retail pharmacies located at our hospital sites: Hauser’s Pharmacy St. Catharines Site First floor, main lobby across from Food Court Hours: 9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Monday – Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday and holidays Phone: 905-685-3030 Goldencare Pharmacy Greater Niagara General...Read more »
Transportation Assistance
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