The Association of Discharge Planning Coordinators of Ontario

The forces at work locally, regionally and provincially in health care present many critical issues for health care professional associations. In the face of evolving change, it is imperative that health care professional associations provide leadership to ensure and maintain improved quality of care and excellent customer service, utilizing cost effective strategies and outcome measures. The Association of Discharge Planning Co-ordinators of Ontario (A.D.P.C.O.) has drafted this document to discuss their role in the delivery of quality patient care in Ontario as we move towards the millennium.

About The Association

The Association of Discharge Planning Coordinators of Ontario (A.D.P.C.O.) established in the late 1970's now boasts a membership representing many hospitals in the Province of Ontario. This voluntary association is an affiliate member of the Ontario Hospital Association. Members are professionals whose educational backgrounds include nursing, social work or related health care disciplines with expertise in the discharge planning process. Association members are licensed and/or regulated through their professional licensing/regulatory bodies while holding the position of Discharge Planner within their organizations.
The mandate of A.D.P.C.O. in conjunction with The Canadian Association of Discharge Planning And Continuity of Care (C.A.D.P.A.C.C.) includes the development of guidelines and standards for practice and the establishment of educational programs for its members. "Guidelines and Standards For Discharge Planning Coordinators", developed for the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation, drives the practice across Canada.

Brief History

In the early 1970's, many hospitals acknowledged that some patients were being discharged from hospital with inadequate supports in the community or were being detained past the acute phase of treatment due to long waiting lists for admission to more suitable care facilities or community programs. Hospitals recognized the need for planned discharge strategies that would facilitate patients' ability to re-enter the community with supports. Experienced health care professionals undertook this designated function to coordinate the discharge planning tasks necessary to expedite a humane and timely process while the bedside nurse and other team members continued to carry out the routine discharge planning functions. Entitled discharge planners, this professional group has developed a unique scope of practice.