What Is Cleveland Clinic’s Discharge Process?
When you’re first admitted to the hospital, leaving may not be the first thing on your mind — but it soon will be. After all, no one wants to stay in the hospital longer than needed. We get that. So from the very start, you’ll hear us mention “discharge planning” — the preparation for your transition out of the hospital. At Cleveland Clinic, we want you to know what to expect from the time you walk in our door until you head out. It’s all a part of how we help make your stay and recovery as smooth as possible.
Managing your care
While you’re with us, you’ll be talking daily with your healthcare providers (you may hear us call these “plan of care visits” or POCVs). We’ll talk with you during these visits about how your treatment is going. We can also answer your questions, go over the next steps and try to figure out how many days you may need to stay in the hospital.
Our registered nurses, social workers and case managers are also here to support you and your family. Throughout your visit, they’ll answer questions about your care and help with other issues like:
- Working with your insurance provider
- Ways to manage your medications
- How to set up advanced directives like a living will and healthcare power of attorney
- Connecting you to community resources
This team can also help you get ready to leave the hospital. If you or your family would like to speak to a social worker or case manager about discharge plans, please ask your nurse.
Preparing To Leave the Hospital
On the day you leave the hospital, we’ll try to have you ready to leave by noon after your provider gives you discharge paperwork. But we’ll first make sure you’re feeling well enough to go. We’ll talk about your ride and where you’re going to recover, whether at home or another care facility.
- If you’re going home, it’s important that you choose a family member or friend as your Pick-Up Person (PUP) at least a day before your planned discharge. Plan to have them arrive at the hospital by 11 a.m. on the day you’re discharged.
- If you don’t have an available PUP, you may be charged for your ride. But we’ll partner with you to find the best option for transportation, whether it’s through your insurance or directly with a transport company.
It’s also important to have all plans in place before you go. We want to be sure you have a way to leave safely.
Main Campus Departure Lounge
If you’re staying at our Main Campus hospital in Cleveland, you'll relax as you wait for your ride in our comfortable and convenient Departure Lounge. The lounge is the next stop only if you’re heading home. (If you’re heading to another facility, you’ll go directly there.)
This lounge, a private waiting area inspired by comfortable airport VIP lounges, is available 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays. A member of our transport or lounge teams will take you from your room to the lounge. You can find this lounge in the lobby (Room J1-441/442) of the Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Pavilion (J Building) on our Main Campus. The lounge features:
- Amenities like art therapy, art making, snacks, coffee, water, complimentary lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., warm blankets, recliners, TV and a restroom
- A phone to call your insurance company if you need to confirm transportation coverage or to call your PUP
- Staff who will notify the appropriate transportation company for you, assist with the valet process or validate your PUP’s parking
The person picking you up won't need to park. Instead, they can call 216.636.6060 to find out which entrance to go to — the 93rd Street circle or the 96th Street entrance. Our Departure Lounge team will bring you directly to your ride. And if you leave the hospital after hours during the week or on the weekend, we'll also help you get from your room to your ride.
Your PUP may also use our valet service or park in one of our self-parking locations.
Leaving the hospital for another facility?
Sometimes your providers might feel you need more care after you leave. If so, we’ll work closely with you and your loved ones so you can continue recovering. (If you transfer to another facility from our Main Campus, you will not go to the Departure Lounge. Instead, you will be transferred directly to your next stop.) You may go to:
- An acute rehabilitation facility, skilled nursing facility, an extended care facility or long-term acute care facility
- Home with a home care agency to help with your ongoing medical needs and rehabilitation
Questions To Ask Before You Leave the Hospital
We know you might have questions about what to expect when you leave the hospital. Here are a few to keep in mind.
What medications will I be taking once I leave? What do I need to know about them?
Your healthcare team will talk with you about all medications you need to take after you leave — including how and when to take them and any side effects. You’ll also get this information printed out for you when you leave the hospital.
If you’re unable to afford your medications, your care team can work with you to find a solution.
How can I receive my discharge prescriptions before I leave the hospital?
Our pharmacy teams know how things work when you’re leaving the hospital and have access to your medical records. There’s no need to stop at a retail pharmacy after you leave unless that’s your preference.
At some hospital locations, you can have your medications delivered from Cleveland Clinic pharmacies directly to your hospital room or to the Departure Lounge before you leave. Bedside Pharmacy Delivery is safe, easy and convenient. Ask your healthcare team about availability.
Our convenient Cleveland Clinic pharmacies are also available. We can make sure the medicines you need are ready before you leave the hospital. And, if you want, you can keep using our pharmacies for all your prescription needs once you’re home. Cleveland Clinic pharmacies want to be your “Pharmacy for Life.”
You’ll need to arrange payment for any cost or copay prior to medication delivery.
Can I pick up my medications at a pharmacy close to my home?
Of course. We can electronically send your prescriptions to your favorite retail pharmacy.
Will I need a follow-up appointment?
After a hospital stay, follow-up visits are an important part of your recovery. They help you stay on track, support your recovery and avoid another hospital stay. During these visits, your care team will:
- Check how you’re healing to catch any problems early
- Go over your medications to be sure they’re still the best fit for you
- Update your care plan as your needs change
- Offer support, answer questions and make sure you’re comfortable
Depending on your recovery and risk factors, we usually recommend scheduling a follow-up visit within seven to 14 days after treatment. Sometimes, we may suggest seeing your provider sooner — within a week.
We’ll help you schedule any follow-up appointments you need. If we set one up before you leave, you’ll find the details in your printed discharge papers and in your MyChart account.
If we don’t schedule your follow-up visit before you go home, don’t worry — someone from our team will contact you to help you set it up. Once it’s scheduled, you’ll see it in your MyChart account.
If a few days go by and you haven’t heard from us, please give us a call:
- Ohio: 866.320.4573
- Florida: 877.463.2010
Even if you’re feeling better, it’s important to go to all of your follow-up visits. We’re here to help you keep your recovery moving along the best path.
Am I signed up for MyChart?
We encourage you to sign-up for a MyChart account, if you haven't already. Registration isn’t automatic, but it’s easy to get started. Once you’re connected, you can visit your online account on any web-enabled device to track and schedule appointments, get test results, message your providers, view your medical records and have virtual visits with your care team.
Getting Ready To Leave The Hospital
When it’s time to go home, your care team will guide you through the discharge process. Once your paperwork is complete, a staff member will help you get ready and escort you to the hospital entrance in a wheelchair. If someone is picking you up, they’ll meet you outside, and we’ll help you get safely settled in the car before you leave.
If you're heading to a rehab or care facility
When you’re not quite ready to go home, you might continue your recovery at a long-term care or acute rehab facility. We’ll help arrange medical transport and let you know when to expect it. A care team member will explain where you’re going and guide you through the next steps to make the transition as smooth as possible.
Where can my ride park and pick me up when I leave the hospital?
Each Cleveland Clinic location has parking lots or garages where your family or loved ones can park and meet you in your room — or, at our Main Campus, in the Departure Lounge. Each hospital also has a designated pick-up door, making it easier for your ride to arrive and get you safely on your way. Here’s what to expect at each of our locations:
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is on Al Maryah Island, east of Abu Dhabi. It’s easily accessible by car or public transport. Friends and family can meet you at the ground floor hospital reception entrance. Parking options include:
- Free self-parking at several locations on campus
- Valet service for a nominal charge, with discounted vouchers available for pre-purchase
Cleveland Clinic Akron General
Akron General Hospital is in downtown Akron, Ohio, near Interstates 77 and 76, just off the Cedar and Exchange streets exit from Route 59 East.
You can be picked up at the main lobby entrance. Parking options include:
- Self-parking (with EV charging) in decks near the main entrance, ambulatory care center and physician office building
- Valet service at the main lobby, heart & vascular center and emergency department entrances
Cleveland Clinic Akron General Lodi Hospital
Lodi Hospital is in downtown Lodi, Ohio, on Elyria Road, Route 83. Friends and family can meet you at the main entrance. Free self-parking is available, including EV charging stations. Valet service is not offered.
Cleveland Clinic Avon Hospital
Avon Hospital is at the corner of Nagel and Chester roads in Avon, Ohio, just off Interstate 90’s Nagel Road exit. You can be picked up at the main lobby entrance on the hospital’s west end. Parking options include:
- Free surface lots with accessible spots and EV charging available
- Valet parking at the adjacent Richard E. Jacobs Health Center
Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital for Rehabilitation
Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital for Rehabilitation is on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Cleveland. You can pick up your child at our main entrance or park onsite for free.
Cleveland Clinic Euclid Hospital
Euclid Hospital is at the corner of Lakeshore Boulevard and E. 185th Street in Euclid, Ohio. You can be picked up at our main entrance. We also offer:
- Free surface parking with accessible spaces and EV charging stations
- Valet parking for a fee at main entrance
Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital
Fairview Hospital is in Cleveland’s West Park neighborhood on Lorain Avenue, just west of Rocky River Drive, State Route 237. Family and friends can pick you up at our main entrance. We have a self-park garage and valet services available for a fee.
Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital
Hillcrest Hospital is on Mayfield Road, Route 322, just east of Interstate 271 in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. Your driver can pick you up at our main entrance. Parking options include:
- Free self-park garage and surface lots
- Valet parking for a fee
- Shuttle from the nearby medical office building and North Campus parking lot
Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital
Indian River Hospital is on 36th Street in Vero Beach, Florida. Your friends and family can pick you up at the main entrance. Free parking is also available.
Cleveland Clinic London Hospital
Cleveland Clinic London is on Grosvenor Place, London, SW1X 7HY.
Designated patient pick-up is available at either of our entrances on Grosvenor Place and Chester Street. We are in a metered parking area with several pay-and-display bays within a short walk. Parking is available for up to four hours at:
- Chapel Street
- Chester Street
- Montrose Place
Limited parking bays are also available at Euro Car Park, a few minutes’ drive from the hospital at The Mayfair Car Park, Park Lane, Achilles Way, W1K 1AB.
Cleveland Clinic Lutheran Hospital
Lutheran Hospital is in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood near the corner of West 25th Street and Detroit Avenue.
Pick-up is available at the entrances on W. 93rd or W. 96th streets. Parking options include:
- Free spaces in front and side lots on Vestry Street, off West 25th Street
- Free accessible parking in front of the hospital
- Valet parking for a fee
Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
Cleveland Clinic Main Campus spans multiple city blocks east of downtown Cleveland. From getting here to picking up loved ones and finding a parking spot, we’ve got you covered.
Patient pick-up is available at the main entrance of the J Building – Sydell & Arnold Miller Family Pavilion or at the Glickman entrance on E 96th St. Parking options include:
- Multiple self-parking locations, including garages and surface lots
- Valet service
Cleveland Clinic Martin North Hospital
Martin North Hospital is just off SE Ocean Boulevard, Route A1A, in Stuart, Florida. You may be picked up at our main entrance. Parking options include a self-park garage and surface lots.
Cleveland Clinic Martin South Hospital
Martin South Hospital is on Salerno Road in Stuart, Florida. Friends and family can pick you up at our main entrance or park in our lots for free.
Cleveland Clinic Marymount Hospital
Marymount Hospital is on McCracken Road in Garfield Heights, just off the Granger Road, State Route 17, exit from Interstate 480. Your driver may pick you up at our main entrance. Free surface parking and accessible spaces are also available.
Cleveland Clinic Medina Hospital
Medina Hospital is on East Washington Street in Medina, Ohio, just off the State Route 18 exit from Interstate 71. Your family and friends can pick you up at our main entrance. We also offer free surface parking, including accessible spaces and EV charging.
Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital
Mercy Hospital is at the corner of 12th Street NW and Mercy Drive in the heart of Canton, Ohio and is easily accessible from I-77. Parking options include:
- Free parking by the main entrance and the parking deck at the surgery center entrance
- Valet parking for a fee
Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation Hospital, Avon
Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation Hospital, Avon, is just north of Avon Hospital, off I-90’s Nagel Road exit. You can be picked up at the main entrance. Free self-parking is available in the surface lot.
Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation Hospital, Beachwood
Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation Hospital, Beachwood, is on Science Park Drive just off the Chagrin Boulevard exit from I-271. Friends and family can pick you up at the main entrance. Free self-parking is also available.
Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation Hospital, Edwin Shaw
Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation Hospital, Edwin Shaw, is on Medina Road, State Route 18, in Copley, Ohio — just west of I-77. Pick-up is at the main entrance. Free parking is available in the surface lot.
Cleveland Clinic South Pointe Hospital
South Pointe Hospital is on the corner of Harvard and Warensville Center Roads in Warrensville Heights, Ohio, near I-480. You can be picked up at the main entrance. Free surface parking with accessible spot is also available.
Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital
Tradition Hospital is on SW Innovation Way in Port St. Lucie, Florida, just off Interstate 95. Your driver can pick you up at the main entrance. Surface parking lots are also available.
Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital
Union Hospital is on Boulevard Street in Dover, Ohio. Friends and family can pick you up at the main or south entrances. Parking is also available in surface lots.
Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital
Weston Hospital is on Weston Road in Weston, Florida, near the Royal Palm Boulevard exit off Interstate 75, State Route 93. Your family and friends can pick you up at the main entrance. Free onsite parking is also available.
What do I need to take with me when I leave?
Leaving the hospital can get hectic. But there are things you’ll need to remember to pack in your bag before you leave. Make sure you have your:
- Discharge instructions
- Keys to get into your house
- Medical equipment (walker, wound care supplies, etc.) if needed
- Personal items you brought into the hospital (wallet, phone, clothing, glasses, charger)
After You Leave Cleveland Clinic
It’s important to follow your healthcare team’s discharge process instructions as you recover outside of the hospital — no matter whether you’re going home or to another care facility.
If you have any questions, it’s best to get answers from your healthcare team before you leave. This can help prevent unexpected visits back to the hospital. It’s also important that you go to all your follow-up appointments, even if you are feeling better.
If you’re having problems after you get home, reach out to your primary care physician (PCP) or main provider overseeing your care. In the event of an emergency, call 911.
