Philosophy of the Association

We are committed to the provision of discharge planning of the highest possible standard to ensure continuity of quality care between the hospital and the community.

Aims of the Association

• To provide a consultancy service to educate, administer and research Discharge Planning processes within the framework of Primary Health Care.
• To reduce patient hospitalisation by means of early identification and appropriate intervention for ongoing nursing and other client needs.
• To promote Continuity of Care, based on individual needs, between health care settings and the community.
• To improve service through evaluation research and professionalism and by contributing to the body of nursing knowledge pertaining to Discharge Planning.

Benefits of membership

Our Association is for the sharing of resources, information and support in all areas to do with transfer of care, community liaison and patient flow. The Association caters for people working in the process of discharge planning from all areas, public and private domains.

• We have regular meetings via Teams where we have an opportunity to network, share experiences and discusss some of the challenges we face in our day to day workload.
• Education sessions online with presentations decided on by members
• Our website is the public website, and we have a members page (with login) in which we can share resources, communicate, access the membership database
• Philosophy, Discharge Planning manual etc available to members
• Scholarships (conditional) are available to members to attend outside conferences and education opportunities relevant to discharge planning
• As the Association grows, we try to make it what the members want it to be

The 7 Principles of Continuing Care

The role of the Continuing Care Coordinators / Discharge Planners will vary depending on the organisational expectations, however the core principles remain constant.

1. Continuing Care/Discharge Planning to be an integrated component of every client's care, from pre-admission onwards.

2. Clients and carers to be the primary focus in the continuing care / discharge planning process.

3. All clients to have ongoing needs assessed (through established protocols), and high-risk clients identified, at or before admission.

4. Planned care may need a multi-disciplinary team approach with appropriate documentation by all.

5. Clients and carers to have full understanding, involvement and agree with each stage of planned care and expected outcomes.

6. Ensure information systems and liaison between hospital and community services are established to promote these principles.

7. Evaluation processes to be utilised to monitor service provision. This ensures planned post discharge support is appropriate, therefore recovery is enhanced and readmissions are reduced.