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Physiotherapy vocabulary · Rehabilitation Planning and Records

Discharge

Meaning in physiotherapy, with examples

/ˈdɪstʃɑːrdʒ/nounCore term

In physiotherapy, discharge means: The end of a patient's care, when they leave hospital or finish a course of physiotherapy because their goals are met or treatment is no longer needed.

In Turkish: taburculuk, tedavinin sonlandırılması

How it is used

Used as a noun and a verb: 'plan for discharge', 'she was discharged home'. On wards, physiotherapists help decide whether a patient is safe for discharge. In outpatient clinics they 'discharge a patient' with a home programme and write a discharge summary.

Example sentences

  1. She is safe for discharge now that she can manage the stairs.

  2. He met all his goals, so I discharged him with a home exercise programme.

Common collocations

  • discharge home
  • discharge planning
  • safe for discharge
  • discharge summary
  • discharge from physiotherapy
  • referralA formal request from one health professional asking another service or specialist to see and treat a patient.
  • rehabilitationThe process of helping a person recover strength, movement and independence after an injury, illness or operation, or adapt to a lasting disability.
  • outcome measureA standard test or questionnaire used to measure a patient's condition at the start of treatment and again later, to show whether things are changing.
  • SMART goalsTreatment goals written to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound, so that progress can be checked clearly.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Rehabilitation Planning and Records

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.