Care Manager Certification Practice Exam

What aspect of patient care is essential before discharge from a healthcare facility?

1. Completing all prescribed medications.

2. Providing education on follow-up care.

3. Ensuring all labs are normal.

4. Scheduling the next appointment.

The correct answer is: Providing education on follow-up care.

Providing education on follow-up care is a critical aspect of patient care before discharge from a healthcare facility. This involves ensuring that patients understand their diagnosis, the importance of continuing their treatment plan, managing their medications correctly, and recognizing signs or symptoms that may necessitate immediate medical attention. Education empowers patients to take an active role in their recovery and helps facilitate adherence to follow-up appointments and prescribed therapies. This process includes discussing any lifestyle changes or ongoing health monitoring that may be necessary. Ensuring that patients leave with a clear understanding of what to expect after discharge greatly reduces the risk of readmissions and helps in achieving better health outcomes. While addressing prescribed medications, normal lab results, and scheduling appointments are all important, they do not have the same impact on empowering the patient and helping them manage their care once they leave the facility. Education ensures that patients have the knowledge they need to navigate their recovery effectively.