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discharge (DC)

When related to the health care setting, this refers to the patient’s formal release from the hospital as an inpatient or if a patient voluntarily departs the hospital. Types of discharge are discharge by death, discharge by transfer, and discharge to home. The discharge hour is inserted in Field 16 and patient discharge status is entered in Field 17 of the Uniform Bill (UB-04) inpatient hospital billing claim form.

Discharge date

Month, day, and year that the patient is formally released from the hospital or skilled nursing facility (e.g., patient left against medical advice, patient released to home, patient transferred to a skilled nursing facility or acute care hospital, patient expired).

Discharge diagnosis

One or more of the diagnoses listed after all the information from tests and observation have been obtained during the present course of a patient’s hospital stay. This identification is given at the time of hospital discharge.

Discharge of Cargo at a Port of Distress

The intention behind marine insurance contracts is to cover the discharge of insured cargo at a port of distress.

The latter term refers to any port, short of destination and within sight of the intended port of discharge, at which the carrier discharges the cargo because the ship has encountered problems that prevent her from continuing the transit of the goods.

When the cargo arrives at its destination, it may be difficult to determine whether the forced discharge caused the loss or damage.

For example, it could have occurred during reloading, onward carriage, or unloading at the final port of discharge. Evidence must demonstrate that the loss or damage is reasonably attributed to discharge at the port of distress.

Discharge plan

Projected treatment plan by the primary care physician or discharging provider for the patient involving subsequent health care after formal release from the hospital as an inpatient. This may include home care, transfer to another facility, postoperative follow-up office visit, medication administration, and so on. Discharge plans are a requirement of the Medicare program and The Joint Commission for all hospital patients. Also called discharge planning .