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Pennsylvania Statutes Title 35 P.S. Health and Safety § 447.5. Hospital discharge plan

Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(a) Duty to issue.--

(1) As soon as possible prior to a patient's discharge from a hospital to the residence, the hospital shall consult with the designated lay caregiver and issue a discharge plan that describes the patient's after-care assistance needs at the residence.

(2) The consultation and issuance of a discharge plan shall occur on a schedule that takes into consideration the severity of the patient's condition, the setting in which care is to be delivered and the urgency of the need for lay caregiver services.

(3) If the hospital is unable to contact the designated lay caregiver, the lack of contact shall not interfere with, delay or otherwise affect the medical care provided to the patient or an appropriate discharge of the patient.

(4) At a minimum, the discharge plan shall include:

(i) The name and contact information of the lay caregiver designated under this act.

(ii) A description of all after-care assistance tasks necessary to maintain the patient's ability to reside at home.

(iii) Contact information for any health care, community resources, long-term care services and support services necessary to successfully carry out the patient's discharge plan and contact information for a hospital employee who can respond to questions about the discharge plan after the instruction provided pursuant to subsection (b).

(b) Instructions for lay caregivers.--

(1) The hospital issuing the discharge plan shall provide lay caregivers with instructions in all after-care tasks described in the discharge plan. Training and instructions for lay caregivers may be conducted in person or through video technology at the discretion of the lay caregiver. Any training or instructions provided to a lay caregiver shall be provided in nontechnical language, to the extent possible.

(2) At minimum, such instruction shall include:

(i) A live or recorded demonstration of the tasks performed by an individual designated by the hospital who is authorized to perform the task and is able to perform the demonstration in a culturally competent manner and in accordance with the hospital's requirements to provide language access services under Federal and State law.

(ii) An opportunity for the lay caregiver and patient to ask questions about the after-care assistance task.

(iii) Answers to the lay caregiver's questions provided in a culturally competent manner and in accordance with the hospital's requirements to provide language access services under Federal and State law.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Pennsylvania Statutes Title 35 P.S. Health and Safety § 447.5. Hospital discharge plan - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/pa/title-35-ps-health-and-safety/pa-st-sect-35-447-5/

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