Patients and Families

Going Home & Follow-up Care

Discharge planning begins soon after the child’s admission. Parents will be involved in the decision and planning for discharge including home care arrangements, medications and follow-up appointments. You will be contacted as soon as your child’s attending physician has approved the child’s discharge from the hospital.

Children must be discharged to parents or legal guardians. If someone other than a parent or legal guardian will be taking your child home, arrangements must be made in advance with your child’s nurse.
Upon discharge, you may receive instructions regarding your child’s follow-up care if he or she requires it.
Repeat to the care provider his/her instructions to make sure you understand them.
Review your child’s discharge/home care plan with the care provider. Be sure to ask when your child can return to normal activities.
Review your child’s medication with the care provider. Ask the medication’s purpose, dosage, delivery, special considerations and side effects.
Ask for prescriptions for medications or other therapies.
Children’s Outpatient Pharmacy, on Floor 1 of the main hospital, can fill discharge prescriptions and can deliver them to the child’s room prior to discharge. The Outpatient Pharmacy is open from 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call 412-692-9200.
Ask your child’s health care provider to help you update your child’s medication history.
Ask your child’s care provider who you should call when questions or problems come up at home.
Know who you should see for follow-up visits.