Following your procedure, a physician will examine you to assess your fitness to return home. As soon as you have been declared medically fit for discharge, you will be given documents to fill out in preparation for your return home. The specific procedures vary according to the nature of your care: Inpatient (> 1 day) or Outpatient (< 1 day). You must never leave the clinic unaccompanied.
Hospitalisation
(> 1 day)
Discharge requires the permission of the physician responsible for your hospitalisation or the anaesthetist. For inpatient stays, your discharge date is decided the day before your departure and you can generally leave the following morning, unless advised otherwise by your physician.
If necessary, your physician may prescribe medical transport for your return home or to take you to another facility.
If you are prescribed a stay in a care and rehabilitation centre, you will be transferred directly from the Victor Hugo Clinic to that facility by ambulance or light vehicle adapted to patient transport.
Before leaving the clinic, you must call into your physician’s administrative office, where you will be given all the necessary documents (advice, transport voucher, prescription, procedure report, etc.).
If you wish to leave against medical advice, then you must sign a release form which discharges the Victor Hugo Clinic and the physician from all responsibility as to the consequences.
Outpatient hospitalisation
(< 1 day)
Discharge requires the permission of the physician responsible for your hospitalisation or the anaesthetist. For outpatients, the time of your discharge is decided by the anaesthetist and the specialist who operated you. If the healthcare team considers that you are well enough to return home, you will be issued with a discharge form.
Certain conditions must be met before you can leave the Victor Hugo Clinic :
- You can go home alone.
- A friend or a taxi can take you home.
- You can eat and drink.
- You can take your prescribed medication without assistance.
Be vigilant for 24 hours after your procedure. You may feel weak and have decreased alertness. Take time to rest, don’t drink alcohol and avoid making any important decisions.
If you wish to leave against medical advice, then you must sign a release form which discharges the Victor Hugo Clinic and the physician from all responsibility as to the consequences.
Administrative formalities
When you are discharged, go to the reception area of the Victor Hugo Clinic where you will be given your administrative file containing :
- Your invoice. Ensure you have a means of payment with you. You will be required to settle any outstanding amounts before leaving. (Television, telephone, private room, fee overruns, etc.)
Please note : If your health insurance provider does not apply the third-party payment system, you will have to advance the fees. You can then send your invoice to your health insurance provider to obtain a refund. - Your hospitalisation report. If necessary, you will be given an extended sick leave certificate by your physician.
- Two copies of your health status report. One copy should be sent to your social security office and the other should be sent to your employer to justify your sick leave during your inpatient stay.
Remember to make photocopies to send to your health insurance provider, physiotherapist, home care nurse and the ambulance paramedics. - Other useful documents : advice, prescriptions, travel vouchers, etc.
