On the home run

My Working Day Mary Quinn , Community Services Discharge Liaison Officer, HSE West arranges care for patients leaving hospital…

My Working Day Mary Quinn, Community Services Discharge Liaison Officer, HSE West arranges care for patients leaving hospital

The majority of patients who are admitted to hospital have the treatment they require and return to their own homes. However, some patients will need a period of convalescence or rehabilitation before they can return home.

For these patients, I arrange a package of care to meet their needs. This may involve co-ordinating the transfer to a community hospital or nursing home and/or arranging a package of care to meet their individual needs in their own homes. The focus at all times is on returning the patient to their own home.

The package of care can consist of a range of services, including GP and nursing support, community physiotherapy and occupational therapy, home help for domestic and personal care, Meals on Wheels, respite care and carer's support.

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I ensure that the necessary supports and services are in place to facilitate the discharge without any delays and to ensure there is continuity of care for the patient's journey through the care system.

In consultation with individual patients, families and carers, I provide a placement or design a package of care which meets their individual needs.

I attend Sligo General Hospital daily, meeting with the discharge co-ordinator, bed manager and ward staff to assess referrals. I establish the bed availability within the community services.

I participate in multi-discipl- inary meetings at the acute and community hospitals, ensuring that estimated dates of discharge are in place. I also attend case conferences of patients with complex care needs. I maintain and provide statistical information to senior managers on a daily basis.

The most enjoyable and rewarding part of the job is when there is a good outcome for the patient, i.e. that the patient's preferred choice can be facilitated.

I enjoy working with the many disciplines within the health services, the community and voluntary supports, who always endeavour to have the patient's wishes central to delivery of service.

The hardest part of the job is when the patient's wish cannot be accommodated due to complex medical or social needs. This loss of independence is a very difficult time for patients to come to terms with and this loss is like a bereavement. Another part of the job I find hard is when there is a failure to reach agreement with the patient's needs and expressed wishes and the family or carer's own needs.