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predischarge

predischarge

1 7.0
Happening before a person leaves a hospital or care facility
  • adjective
  • /ˌpriːdɪˈʃɑːrdʒ/
  • Specialized
: previo al alta
  • The hospital's predischarge checklist ensures that patients have received all necessary information before leaving.

Examples

  • Predischarge assessments help identify any lingering health issues that need to be addressed.

  • Patients are encouraged to participate in predischarge meetings to better understand their aftercare instructions.

  • This suggests the need for active, predischarge education programs targeting specific caregiving skills that will be needed in the provision of care at home.

    Academic text (2007)

Surface Forms

predischarge positive

Morphology

predischarge = discharge (transparent) = pre + discharge

The adjective is a straightforward temporal formation meaning 'before discharge'.

Etymology

The word predischarge breaks into pre- meaning 'before' and discharge meaning 'to release'. So, predischarge means the checks and steps done 'before release' from care or service.