procedures
Hospital Discharge
退院 (taiin)
Hospital discharge is the formal process by which a patient leaves the hospital after an inpatient stay. The discharge process includes a discharge plan developed by the care team, medication reconciliation, follow-up appointment scheduling, and patient education. Under Medicare regulations, hospitals must provide written Discharge Notice documents explaining patient rights, including the right to request a Quality Improvement Organization review if the patient believes discharge is premature. Discharge to a skilled nursing facility, rehabilitation center, or home health service often requires separate insurance authorization.
Patients should not feel pressured to leave the hospital before they or their care team believe it is medically appropriate; formal appeals are available.
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Hospital Discharge |
| Japanese (日本語) | 退院 |
| Chinese (中文) | 出院 |
| Korean (한국어) | 퇴원 |
| Portuguese | Alta Hospitalar |
| Spanish | Alta Hospitalaria |
| Filipino | Hospital Discharge |
| Thai | การจำหน่ายออกจากโรงพยาบาล |
| Vietnamese | Xuất viện |
| Romanization | taiin |
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Browse US healthcare guides →Last reviewed: September 2026