Tracheostomy: facilitating successful discharge from hospital to home

When a patient is identified as requiring a long-term or permanent tracheostomy, the complexity of the care needs and safety issues will dominate the focus of the discharge planning for the healthcare team. The effectiveness of this process will ultimately determine the success of the discharge and is essential in preventing critical incidents or readmission to hospital. An effective working partnership between hospital-based staff and the community team is a central component in achieving a successful and safe discharge. This article examines the discharge process from initial identification of a client requiring a long-term tracheostomy to the discharge itself and meeting the individual's ongoing care needs at home. Discharge planning considerations and clinical priorities are explored from both the hospital-based and community perspectives.