Arrangements for Post-Hospital Care

Discharge Information

Raritan Bay Medical Center is committed to your safe discharge after your hospital stay with us is complete.  Let us help you plan for your discharge needs early in your hospital stay. We encourage you to speak with your physician and other members of the healthcare team regarding your discharge options. There are multiple departments available to assist you and your family with discharge plans.

Early discharge is beneficial to patients and their caregivers so that patients are settled in their post discharge environment early. Your physician will write an order and the nursing staff will prepare discharge instructions about your post hospital care. This information is important for you to understand. Please feel free to ask questions. If you need to make arrangements for someone to pick you up we request all discharges occur prior to 12 noon.

Social Work Services

The social work department is staffed by licensed professional social workers dedicated to meeting the continuing health care needs of the communities we serve. The social workers are available to assist patients and their families in developing a safe and appropriate plan for discharge from the hospital to home or to an alternate health care facility.

It is the policy of RBMC to initiate discharge planning as soon as possible after a patient’s admission to the hospital. Assessment and evaluation of post-hospital needs is completed by the social worker in conjunction with the patient, family, physician, case manager, nursing staff, and other members of the health care team to establish an individual plan to meet the patient’s specific needs.

Social workers are available to help you and your family adapt to the plan of care. They will discuss and review your specific needs, explain the services that you will require, investigate your insurance coverage for these services, explain any restrictions or limitations that may apply and initiate referrals to the appropriate community agencies, facilities, companies, and/or programs.

Our goal is to assist you and your family in making a smooth transition from illness to well-being. The types of services provided by the social work staff may include:

• Referrals to home care agencies
• Referrals to durable medical equipment companies
• Referrals to IV therapy companies
• Referrals to rehabilitation facilities
• Referrals to skilled nursing facilities or other long term care/sheltered care facilities
• Referrals to dialysis facilities
• Referrals to public assistance programs (Medicaid, SSI, SSD, Local Welfare, PAAD, etc.)
• Referrals to community agencies such as Meals on Wheels, American Cancer Society, legal services, support groups, self-help groups, etc.
• Referrals to Hospice programs
• Referrals to adult day care programs
• Referrals to homeless shelters
• Provide information concerning Advance Directives
• Referrals to protective service agencies (Division of Youth & Family Services, Adult Protective Services, Women Aware, etc.)
• Referrals for alcohol and/or substance abuse counseling
• Provide adjustment to illness counseling

For more information, you may contact the social work department.

Perth Amboy
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Monday through Friday
732.324.5151

Old Bridge
8:30am to 5:00pm
Monday through Friday
732.360.4007