What is the complete outline of a patients entire hospital stay?

Pre-hospital

- First responders arrive on scene and assess the patient's condition

- Patient is transported to the nearest emergency department

Emergency department

- Patient undergoes a triage assessment to determine the severity of their condition

- Patient is assigned a bed and starts receiving medical treatment

- Doctor will order tests to determine diagnosis

- If patient's condition is not stable they will be admitted to hospital but remain in the emergency department for ongoing treatment until a hospital bed becomes available

- If the patient's condition is stable and non-urgent they may be discharged from the emergency department with instructions to follow-up with outpatient appointments and medication regimens

Inpatient

- Patient is admitted to a hospital bed

- Nurse will perform comprehensive admission assessment

- Doctor develops plan for further diagnostic work-up and treatment

- Patient undergoes further testing and treatment

- Patient is closely monitored by nursing and medical staff

- Dietitian will meet with patient to set individualized meal plan based off any dietary restrictions

- Physical therapy assesses patient to address any mobility or other functional limitations

- If indicated, surgical intervention is performed

- Patient is slowly advanced to a normal diet as appropriate

Discharge planning

- Social worker will assess patient to address any discharge needs and set up post-acute care as appropriate

- Doctor gives patient instructions for care at home

- Prescription and instructions on how and when to take each medication are provided

- Follow up appointments are made with the patient's primary care physician and any specialists as needed

- Patient is discharged from the hospital

Post-hospital

- Patient follows up with their primary care physician and specialists as directed

- Patient adheres to their medication regimen and follows all discharge instructions

- Patient attends any recommended rehabilitation or therapy appointments