Who is the Discharge Planner?

• A. Home health aide scheduling.
• B. Nurse coordinating discharge paperwork.
• C. Discharge Planner.
• D. Pharmacist coordinating post-discharge care.

Answer: (C)

Coordinating the entire transition from hospital to home is the core function of the discharge planner. This role involves assessing what the patient needs after leaving the hospital, arranging post-acute services (such as home health care, equipment, or durable medical supplies), scheduling follow-up appointments, and communicating with the patient, family, physicians, and any post-discharge providers to ensure a safe, smooth move. The discharge planner is the point person responsible for tying all these elements together so the patient can recover at home with the appropriate support in place.

Staff who schedule aides focus on staffing logistics, which is only a piece of the process. Nursing staff who coordinate discharge paperwork handle documentation rather than the full care transition. Pharmacists concentrate on medications and education, not the broader coordination of services after discharge.