Taking a Patient Home After Hospital Discharge: A Simple Checklist

The doctor says, “You can take him home today.” Everyone is relieved. Then the next question hits. How do we actually get him home?

For a young, healthy patient, a car is fine. But for an elderly parent who just had surgery, a stroke, a fracture or a long ICU stay, the trip home needs a little planning. Here’s a simple checklist families in Pakistan can follow.

Can the patient sit in a car?

Be honest about this one. If the patient can’t sit up for the whole drive, gets dizzy, is in pain when moved, or needs two or three people to lift, a car isn’t safe. One bump on a bad road and the stitches or the fracture can suffer.

In that case, book a patient transfer ambulance. The patient lies flat on a stretcher and trained staff move them safely. You don’t have to lift anyone.

If the doctor has prescribed oxygen at home, ask for an oxygen ambulance so the patient isn’t without it on the way.

Before you leave the hospital

• Get the discharge summary and keep it safe
• Ask for a written list of medicines, with timings
• Ask when the next check-up is, and write it down
• Clear the hospital bill before the ambulance arrives
• Ask the nurse which warning signs mean you should come back

Settling the bill early really helps. A lot of time is lost at billing counters while the ambulance waits outside.

Get the house ready

Before the patient arrives, prepare a room on the ground floor if you can. Stairs are hard after surgery. Put the bed against a wall, keep a clear path from the gate to the bed, and keep medicines, water and a phone within reach.

If you’ve arranged a hospital bed, wheelchair or oxygen cylinder for home, make sure it arrives before the patient does.

On the day

Tell us the hospital name, your home address and the discharge time. Share a location pin on WhatsApp if your street is hard to find. Many galis in older parts of Rawalpindi are narrow, so tell us if the ambulance can’t reach the door. The crew will bring the stretcher as close as possible.

One family member can ride along with the patient. Keep the discharge file in your hand.

After you reach home

Watch the patient closely for the first day or two. If they suddenly have trouble breathing, chest pain, a high fever, confusion or bleeding from the wound, don’t wait. Call the doctor, or call for an ambulance.

Book a discharge transfer

We do home transfers after discharge every day in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, and long trips home to other cities too. Not sure which vehicle to ask for? Read which ambulance do you need.

Call 0336 291 4741 or 0345 570 4719, or message us on WhatsApp. We’re available 24/7.