title: Improving discharge: the role of the discharge co-ordinator.
abstract: Discharge of patients from hospital has in the past been handled haphazardly by healthcare professionals. Co-ordination of this important part of a person's experience of hospital would have psychological and emotional benefits for patients, staff and the NHS as a whole. In this article, the author describes the role of the discharge co-ordinator in planning strategically for patient discharge. In a second article, to follow shortly, the author discusses how multidisciplinary liaison can be improved.
authors.affiliation: South Bank University, London.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nazarko
mesh_terms: D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007587:Job Description; D009737:Nursing Records; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010351:Patient Discharge; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*