Discharge planning revisited: what do social workers actually do in discharge planning?

The professional literature reflects a lack of clarity regarding the activities performed in discharge planning. Does discharge planning primarily focus on the provision of concrete services, counseling, or both? Within a structured interview format, 80 social workers in 36 acute care hospitals were asked to estimate the amount of time they spent on and the importance of 73 discharge planning tasks. Respondents were also asked to locate themselves on an activity continuum. The survey results are discussed in terms of the prospective payment system's emphasis on expeditious discharge and the challenge to social workers in enabling patients and families to have some control over decision making in this climate.