Admission and Discharge

Admission

Admission processes focus on recovery in areas such as therapeutic alliance, promoting hope, goal setting and building trust with patients, substitute decision-makers (SDM), families and other supports.

Admission Guiding Principles:

• Patients are the expert on their recovery and they have learned about living with and working through their mental illness.
• The interprofessional treatment team guides the admitting process by actively engaging patients as partners in care to maximize personal autonomy and self determination while maintaining a safe and supportive environment.
• In order to provide effective recovery-oriented care, it is important that patients, families, other supports and the community understand and are involved in treatment. Patients, along with their supports, have the opportunity to be full partners in their recovery.
• Recovery-oriented care highlights patient perception of their needs, goals, values, strengths, resources, outcomes, family and community supports.
• Clinicians understand that recovery is an individualized process and patients may be at a different point in their recovery than other patients.
• Treatment teams follow Ontario Shores’ Standards of Care, recognizing that discharge planning begins before and upon admission.

Discharge

Recovery continues after patients leave Ontario Shores. It is a journey of healing that enables individuals to lead a meaningful life in the community and maintain their mental health.

Discharge Guiding Principles:

• The community is viewed as the best environment for recovery.
• With patient, or the substitute decision-maker's (SDM) consent, family members, natural supports and community organizations participate in the discharge planning process, to secure appropriate and available community services. 
• Patients, or SDMs, family members and natural supports develop a community living transition plan, relapse prevention strategies and crisis plan prior to the discharge date.
• The discharge plan focuses on areas such as wellness, personal aspirations, social supports, housing, finances, education, vocation/employment, leisure activities, daily routines and community reintegration. Education for families and natural supports is essential to ensure they receive assistance to rebuild personal, social, environmental and spiritual or religious connections.
• A physician’s order is required for discharge.
• Social workers are responsible for coordinating the discharge plan.

The Government of Ontario’s recently introduced Bill 7, More Beds for Better Care Act.  The purpose of this legislation is to give public hospitals the authority to move patients who have been designated as Alternate Level of Care because they no longer require care within a hospital, to a long-term care home (LTCH) on a temporary basis while awaiting a LTCH of their choice, to free up beds in hospital in order to care for other patients who are waiting for treatment.

As a public hospital, Ontario Shores is required to comply with Bill 7.  If this legislation applies to you or your loved one, the clinical team will work collaboratively with you to support you through the discharge process.  Please connect with your clinical team if you have any questions.