Departure

What to expect before and after your discharge

Being discharged may be exciting and stressful at the same time. Ratchaphruek offers this guide to help you understand the discharge process and what to expect after departure. Keep in mind that healing doesn’t stop after you leave, and it is important to follow your doctor’s medical advice after departure.

Discharge Plan

At Ratchaphruek, patients will be first assessed by physicians before written discharge orders are issued. To ensure that you are ready for the discharge process, the written discharge order must be recorded and filed in your medical records prior to the discharge.

Discharge Time

If you decide to discharge, you will be charged for the room and services and full price for any food services when you stay 24 hours. Additional charge if staying more than 6 hours.

Traveling by Air

If you need to travel by air to return to your home country or another travel destination, you will need to ask your doctor to certify a Fit for Travel Medical Certificate, as well as a list of medications you will require abroad. The Fit for Travel Medical Certificate is only valid for three days from the date of issue. Please ensure the following before making travel plans:

• Ask your physician for a summary of medical reports, lab tests and X-ray results
• Gather the contact information of your clinic, transport provider and patient assistant
• Inform your physician and nurse where your destination is
• Confirm transportation plans at the airport in the destination you are headed to

Against Medical Advice

Patients and Medical travel patients who refuse all types of diagnostic, treatment both inpatient and outpatient; Patients and Medical travel patients have to follow the hospital policy by signing “Consent: Against Medical Advice”

Home Medication Advice and Educational Resources

It is important to understand the educational resources and recommendations that your doctor gives you at the discharge. The following list includes some of the important takeaways at discharge. Please do not hesitate to contact your doctor if you have any questions.

At discharge, patients will:

• Be informed and educated about the drugs and medication that they have been given.
• Be taught how to manage and adapt to the environment so that it does not affect their health condition; how to utilize community resources and deal with the economic and social problems which may affect their condition.
• Understand the goal of treatment, learn how to observe their own symptoms and know when to notify the physician or nurse about significant symptoms. Patients will have sufficient knowledge to handle any emergency situations by themselves appropriately before arriving at a hospital.
• Understand their own health status such as limitations and effect from their medical condition. Patients will be able to handle daily activities, cope with the health limitation, aid recovery and prevent complications from happening.
• Understand and realize the importance of follow-up appointments. Patients should understand the need to ask for help in the case of emergency, as well as the treatment outcome and treatment plan to the other units which may be applicable.
• Have the know-how in selecting nutritional food that is best for their health condition.

If treatment must be continued at another healthcare facility, patients will discharge and leave with a summary of the given treatment at Ratchaphruek Hospital. This summary report will be issued by a physician and given to the patient by a nurse at discharge.

Follow-up

Patients will be contacted by Ratchaphruek after the discharge for a follow-up regarding their medical conditions and satisfaction towards our services. Please provide the contact details to our nurses so that our coordination physicians and nurses can follow-up with you.

Level of Satisfaction for Health Experience

Your feedback towards our healthcare services is valuable to our organization as we can improve our services everyday. Please contact us in one of the following channels:

• Tell our staff directly (attending nurse or doctor)
• Write your comments by scanning the QR code placed on the table in your room
• Call our CEO (dial “1400” for internal hospital line or +66896223994 from outside)
• Send us an e-mail to: medicaltravel@dev.rph.co.th