Admissions, Transfers, and Discharges

Vocabulary terms and procedural definitions for Chapter 36 regarding patient admissions, transfers, and discharges.

Admission

The official entry of a person into a health care setting.

Transfer

Moving the person to another health care setting or, in some agencies, moving the person to a new room within the agency.

Discharge

The official departure of a person from a health care setting.

Admitting Office

The location where the admission process usually starts; in hospitals, it may start in the emergency room (ER).

Identifying Information

Data obtained by admitting staff or a nurse including full name, age, birth date, doctor's name, Medicare number, and religion.

Admission Procedure Tasks

Activities that may include measuring weight and height, vital signs, obtaining a urine specimen, completing a personal belongings list, and orientation.

Weight and Height Measurement freqency

Measurements taken initially on admission, then daily, weekly, or monthly to monitor gain or loss.

Types of Scales

Equipment used for weighing which includes standing, chair, wheelchair, bed, and lift scales.

Weight Guidelines

Steps including having the person void, wear only a gown or pajamas, use a dry incontinence product, and weigh at the same time of day.

Balance the scale at zero ($0$)

The required action to be performed before weighing the person to ensure measurement accuracy.

Reasons for moving to a new room

Includes a change in condition, person's request, roommates not getting along, or changes in care needs.

Departure without permission

A situation where a person wants to leave the agency without the doctor's permission, requiring immediate reporting to the nurse.

Clothing and personal belongings list

A record completed during admission to identify all the person's property and ensure respect for their belongings.