Hospital Discharge Planning in Austin

Why the window is so short

Hospital discharge is the single most common trigger for an Austin senior care search. Families often get 24 to 72 hours of notice from a case manager.

The five questions to ask the case manager

1. Is my parent admitted as an inpatient, or under observation status? Get this in writing. Medicare's skilled nursing benefit requires a qualifying inpatient stay, and observation days do not count no matter how many nights were spent in the building.
2. What level of care is being recommended, and by whom? Skilled nursing, assisted living and home health are very different recommendations with very different funding.
3. Which facilities have accepted the referral? Case managers send to many and hear back from few. Ask which have actually said yes.
4. What is the discharge date, and can it move? It is usually less fixed than it sounds, especially if a safe plan is not in place.
5. Can I have the discharge plan in writing? You are entitled to it, and it changes the conversation.

Major Austin systems

Ascension Seton

• Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin, 1201 W. 38th St., Austin 78705
• Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas, 1500 Red River St., Austin 78701, the region's Level I trauma center and Dell Medical School teaching hospital

Operates additional hospitals across the metro including Williamson, Hays, Northwest, Southwest, and Bastrop.

St. David's HealthCare

• St. David's Medical Center, 919 E. 32nd St., Austin 78705
• St. David's South Austin Medical Center
• St. David's North Austin Medical Center

An HCA joint venture with more than 180 sites, including Round Rock Medical Center and Georgetown Hospital.

Baylor Scott & White Health

• Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Austin, 5245 W. US Hwy 290 Service Rd.

The largest not-for-profit health system in Texas, with additional Central Texas campuses in Round Rock, Pflugerville, Marble Falls, and Temple.