Social Services and Discharge Planning
At Downey Regional Medical Center, we believe in providing easy access to information and services. The Social Services and Discharge Planning department is staffed by health care professionals that help patients and families cope with numerous issues resulting from illness and hospitalization. In collaboration with the physician and other personnel, Social Services and Discharge Planning can aid patients in utilizing health care services and available resources to provide for the best possible outcome.
Some of the services provided by Social Services and Discharge Planning include:
• Explaining health care resources and policies to patients and family members.
• Helping to plan for post-hospital needs by arranging for services at another facility or in the home.
• Helping patients and families receive needed follow-up care by referrals to health-care resources.
• Understanding the social, cultural and religious variables that contribute to patients’ responses to illness and their use of health care resources.
Our Care Coordinators/Discharge Planners are nurses who assist in the arrangement of services as patients prepare to leave the hospital and move on to the next level of care, whether that be home, nursing home or another hospital. They coordinate with insurance for benefits including home health, medical equipment and outpatient services.
Our Social Workers are available to assist patients and families with problems with insurance, finance and interpersonal problems that may interfere with access to services. They can also assist with education to Advance Directives and assistance with understanding end of life care issues. Additionally, our Social Workers can provide referrals to community resources that may be beneficial to the patient when they leave the hospital.
If you feel that you could benefit from any of these services, please ask your nurse to coordinate the arrangements with the Social Services/Discharge Planning department.