Page 4 - TERMINAL DISCHARGE GUIDELINE FIRST EDITION 2023

Chapter 1
Foreword

Foreword from Director
Hospital Kuala Lumpur

Safe and effective discharge is recognised as an essential component of
patient-centric care that should be planned as early as the time of
admission of a patient to the hospital. Clear communication with

caregivers and patient with concise documentation of discharge plan is
fundamental for a smooth transition between care in hospital and care at
home. In Malaysia, it is becoming common practice for patients and

caregivers to request for early discharge from the hospital when patient is
approaching end of life so that they may be comfortably cared for,
surrounded by their loved ones. Malaysian healthcare practitioners are
currently more attuned to the grief of unfulfilled wishes and psychological

impact on caregivers and patients as a consequence of a person dying
not in their preferred setting or in an unfamiliar, sterile environment such

as a hospital ward.

Discharge planning for the terminally ill is more complicated and
challenging as it involves a time-sensitive process, precise

communication and coordinated care by multidisciplinary teams such as
clinicians, nurses and pharmacists. Optimal transition between care
settings for the terminally ill patient is critical in providing the best standard

of care and to meet the expectations, wishes and needs of the dying
person and their families.

HOSPITAL KUALA LUMPUR 4
TERMINAL DISCHARGE GUIDELINE 2023