Discharge

Once your stay with us is finished, we will work with you and your family to ensure that you leave with all the information and support you need as you continue to recover.

Discharge Planning

Knapp Medical Center’s interdisciplinary Case Management team is composed of nurses and social workers with special training in concurrent review and planning for your safe discharge. They assist patients who need to be transferred to other facilities or visited by a Home Health nurse from an agency of their choice. If you have commercial insurance or an HMO plan, Case Managers will make every effort to coordinate your post-discharge benefits with your plan’s preferred clinicians. If you have Medicare, any Case Manager or unit nurse can witness your second signature on the “Important Notice from Medicare”, informing you of your discharge appeal rights, within 48 hours before your discharge.

Social Services

Social Workers are especially skilled in assisting patients faced with complex situations who need supportive counseling as they accept new diagnoses or make plans to deal with chronic illnesses. They can provide information for financial assistance and community resources. All of these services are free. To request assistance, please just ask your doctor or nurse.

Going Home

There are a few necessary steps that will make your discharge day go smoothly. Please check with your nurse to see if your attending physician has signed the orders for you to be discharged from the hospital.

Please understand that there is often a delay between the time your doctor verbally says it is okay for you to go home and the actual time you may be discharged. If you are a maternity patient, you will also need to wait for dismissal orders from the pediatrician caring for your baby.

Prior to discharge, your nurse will give you information on medications, special diet requirements, wound care, and/or further medical follow-up.
Before leaving your room, please check for any articles you may have missed when you packed your bag. The hospital is not responsible for any articles left in your room but will make every attempt to locate misplaced items.

Please check with the Cashier when you are dismissed to make sure we have all of the correct information such as your address, phone number, Social Security number, and insurance data. This is also an opportunity for you to ask any financial questions.

Transportation

When arranging for transportation home, have the driver pick you up at the Main Entrance to Knapp Medical Center on 8th Street. When you are ready to leave, a hospital volunteer or member of the nursing staff will escort you to the proper exit.

Inpatient Survey

A few days after returning home from the hospital, you may receive a phone call asking about your experience. A professionally trained interviewer will guide you through a very brief questionnaire which will give us an opportunity to improve service or recognize employees for providing good service. If you would like to discuss your hospital stay, please call Guest Services at 956-969-5239 on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Knapp Medical Center is a not-for-profit, acute care hospital, and a member of the Prime Healthcare Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity. Located in South Texas we provide exceptional healthcare services to residents of the Rio Grande Valley. Located in Weslaco, Knapp works hard to provide state-of-the-art technology, progressive diagnostic and treatment options, and patient-focused care.