Discharge Planning
Discharge planning is critical for all hazard preparations. Public health emergency events can leave persons displaced, in need of shelter, food, and support services, either temporarily or long-term. Florida's experience with disasters has shown that a person residing in the community who takes refuge in a temporary setting may be unable to safely return home after the disaster or may need additional support.
Discharge planning is a process that facilitates moving a person from one level of care or health care setting to another, or from a temporary or shelter setting back to the community for more permanent placement. While individual plans will be based on a person's needs and available resources, plans for the process should be ready for activation at any time.
The process begins when a person enters a temporary setting.
Staff should make an assessment of needs and identify available
resources, community services, and supports. The process
continues by linking persons to those resources and following up
to ensure that acceptable services and supports are arranged.
Discharge Planning Resources Toolkit
This toolkit provides resources for local officials, discharge planning teams, special needs shelter consultants, shelter unit leaders, nurses, or others who may be assigned to take the lead for or assist with discharge planning. To ensure the most current and available information, the toolkit provides links to source sites for reports, research, community resources, and agencies that can provide assistance in the discharge process.
Resources outside the Florida Department of Health are provided
for information only. Their inclusion does not constitute
endorsements by the department. The department is not
responsible for content on any linked website. All attempts have
been made to link to reliable sources, but sites and URLs are
subject to change or have technical malfunctions without
warning.
If you have feedback or input on how to improve this toolkit or would like to share/submit additional resources for inclusion in the toolkit, send an email to the below address:
"Under Florida law, e-mail
addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail
address released in response to a public records request, do not
send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this
office by phone or in writing." - Fla. Stat. sec. 668.6076
To contact
us by phone call (850) 245-4040
E-mail: BPR_CommRes_CHDSupport@doh.state.fl.us
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Discharge Planning Guide |
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2012 Discharge Planning Resource Guide Developed in collaboration with other agencies and organizations. Provides information and resources to assist in safely returning persons to their original or other suitable community setting following a stay in temporary shelter or alternate care site. To ensure the most current information on a specific program or agency, refer to the contact information and website links in the document or contact the agency directly.
2012 Discharge Planning Resource Guide Addendum - April 2013
2012 Discharge Planning Resource Guide County Supplement A county-by-county quick reference guide to agencies. Microsoft word document to allow users to select counties of interest and/or adapt to fit local needs.
Discharge Planning Resource Guide Feedback Form Please use this link to provide feedback and comments on the 2012 Discharge Planning Resource Guide.
Discharge Planning Webinar The September 11, 2012 Webinar discussed the importance of discharge planning and introduced participants to the 2012 Discharge Planning Resource Guide. Speakers from the Departments of Health, Elder Affairs, and Agency for Health Care Administration described their agency's roles and presented ways the guide can be used to support local disaster preparedness and response activities.
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Multiagency Discharge Planning Teams |
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Florida Statute that establishes multiagency special needs shelter discharge planning teams to assist local areas severely impacted by a disaster, provides team duties and responsibilities, and provides for the inclusion of specified state agency representatives. |
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Partner Agencies |
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State agency authorized by legislation to convene multiagency special needs shelter discharge teams. Refer to this site for the multiagency team Standard Operating Procedures and Discharge Planning Tool for Rapid Needs Evaluation (Rapid Needs Assessment Form), procedures for completing the form, and other preparedness resources.
A brief summary of agency information and links that might be helpful for discharge planning. Does not represent all agencies, services, or responsibilities. As agencies have additional responsibilities and information may change, it is recommended that links to websites be used to obtain more comprehensive and detailed information. |
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Community Resources |
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Information and Referral and 211 Helplines Florida Alliance of Information and Referral Services. Click on "Referral Search" or "Helplines" to search for services, or county specific Helplines.
Department of Elder Affairs Consumer Resource Guide Publication with information to assist elders, their families, caregivers, and others who assist elders find help and needed resources.
Florida's Aging and Disability Resource Centers Community Resource Directory Locator. Select a county and enter a city name or zip code to search for services by category, key word, or agency name.
Resources for Vulnerable Populations Thank you to the Florida Assisted Living Association for sharing their summary of agencies and organizations that provide information or assistance. The list can help discharge planners link persons to available information and support services (Rev June 2012). |
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Other Useful Links and Resources |
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Best Practices Manual for Discharge Planning Publication of the Los Angeles Coalition to End Hunger and Homelessness, August 2008, identifying best practices in discharge planning from mental health and substance abuse facilities, foster care, jails, prisons, and hospitals.
Department of Elder Affairs Publications Webpage that provides links to documents about resources, services, and programs for elders. Key publications include a Disaster Preparedness Guide, Summary of Programs and Services (see Section A for Aging Service Network maps), and the Older Floridians Handbook (contains legal and program information and a reference section with referral contact information).
Discharge Planning for the Respiratory Care Patient American Association of Respiratory Care Clinical Practice Guideline as published in the December 1995 issue of the Respiratory Care Journal.
Discharge Planning Resources for Hospitals and Healthcare Partners DOH webpage with information to assist facility personnel in planning for patient discharge.
Key Considerations in Planning For Transition/Recovery See Section 4.3 of the FEMA Guidance on Planning for Integration of Functional Needs Support Services in General Population Shelters. This section provides a discussion and operational tools for closing a shelter and transitioning persons back to the community. November 2010.
Mass Care Sheltering in Florida Paper by Michael Whitehead, State Mass Care Coordinator describing public sheltering during emergency evacuation. The paper highlights information from the Florida Department of Health, Special Needs Shelter Interagency Committee, Functional Needs Support Services Sub-committee - October, 2012.
Developed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to assist hospital administrators and emergency managers during unexpected increases in patient volume. The tool is a promising practice on the University of Minnesota, Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) website.
Special Needs Shelter Tools and Resources DOH webpage that provides information and tools for the Special Needs Shelter Program.
DOH webpage that serves as a toolkit for community planners who seek to better understand the needs of vulnerable populations before, during, and after a disaster or incident. |