Discharge Plan

20% of your paperwork grade

***This is to be a detailed plan using the METHOD-P format. It is to be written with each area
clearly marked. Use bullets to list the teaching. This should be able to be sent home with a
patient and in terms the patient can understand.

M – Medications 10%
What medications are prescribed for this patient? What instructions were given regarding self-
administration or family administration? Address the medications that the patient is being sent
home on. Give the name, dose, frequency, and route. Include common adverse reactions and
when the patient should notify the physician regarding the reactions. Indicate if the medications
are to be taken with food/milk or on an empty stomach, or any other special considerations in
regards how to take the medication. Include foods that should be avoided or added according to
the prescribed medication.

E – Environment 10%
Explore how this patient’s home environment could be modified to ensure the patient’s safety.
Discuss the environment the patient is returning to. Will the patient need modification to the
home such as wheelchair ramp, bar handles in the bathroom or bathtub, a raised toilet seat. What
about pets in the home? Will they affect the safety of the patient? Explore thoroughly what
changes or considerations need to be discussed.

T – Treatments 10%
What treatments were prescribed for the patient? Describe how the skills were demonstrated to
the patient and/or family. How was the patient’s/family’s understanding of the demonstration
assessed? Dressing changes, care of central lines, nebulizer treatments are a few examples of
treatments that may be prescribed. Is the patient going home with a foley catheter, a cast, or any
other drain? These are a few examples of treatments that you may see.

H – Health Teaching
20%
Identify information that is necessary to teach the patient to maintain or improve current health
status related to disease and/or lifestyle. Some examples are: A diabetic patient; foot care, blood
testing, S&S of hypo/hyperglycemia. A patient with a cardiac history; how to check his blood
pressure and pulse. These are just a small sample of what should be included in this area. You
may utilize handouts for the health teaching. Be sure to highlight or underline the specific
information you feel is of most importance from that handout and have discussed with the patient.
O – Outpatient Follow-up
5%
When is the patient to return for a follow-up visit? Who is he to see? What is the phone number
and when should he contact the office to make the appointment? How is the patient going to get
to the follow-up visit? Will he/she need assistance? What community resources may be beneficial
for the patient and/or family to ease the transition of returning home? Examples: Meals on
Wheels, Grief support groups. Has any therapy been ordered? Will the patient be receiving Home
Health visits?

D – Diet
10%
What diet has been recommended for the patient when he returns home? What type of teaching
was given to ensure his compliance? What special considerations were discussed? Example: a
patient is returning home after surgery on a regular diet. Teach the importance of eating a well
balanced diet with adequate protein to assist in the healing process. Give examples of foods that
they should be eating or foods they should avoid and how to cook these foods. Then provide a
sample menu for a 24-hour period, including breakfast, lunch, and supper. The menu may also
need to include snacks if applicable to this patient.

P – Psychosocial 10%
What psychosocial issues will the patient and/or family have to deal with? Is this an elderly
patient who was independent, living in his/her own home and now has to live with a son or
daughter? Is this a patient that has been newly diagnosed with a terminal illness and has small
children at home? Is the patient the primary moneymaker in the family and can now no longer
work? Look at all psychosocial issues that may affect this patient and/or his family.
M – Medications