America has a highly developed health care system, available to all people. While it can be very complex and frustrating at times, it has come a long way from the healthcare organizations of yesteryear. Previously, most healthcare facilities were places where sick people were housed and cared for until they died. Doctors rarely practiced in hospitals and only the luckier ones could afford adequate care at home or in private clinics. Today the level of healthcare is extraordinarily excellent. Currently the goal of our healthcare is to have a continuum of patient care, integrated at all levels. Many hospitals offer a referral service or discharge plan for patients being discharged. Plans for the patient are discussed with a discharge planner. The discharge planner is a person trained to assess what the patient's healthcare needs will be after discharge from the hospital. This allows the patient to continue! their care at the level most appropriate for them. Elements reviewed for discharge planning include, but are not limited to, medications, treatment needs, living arrangements, and identification of specific goals. Some of the options available to people discharged from an acute care hospital may include home health care, assisted living facilities, long-term care, or hospice. Home Health Care According to Growing Old inAmerica (1996), “Home health care is one of the fastest growing segments of the health care industry” (p. 114). Alternatives to home care can meet both a patient's medical and non-medical needs. These services are provided to patients and their families at home or in their place of residence. Home care is a method of providing nursing care and other therapies required by the patient's needs. There are numerous alternatives available for people seeking healthcare at home. With transportable technologies such as durable medical equipment, oxygen supply and intravenous fluids there are countless treatment possibilities in the home setting. As stated in The Continuum of Long Term Care, “home health programs range from formal organizations that provide skilled nursing care to relatively informal networks that arrange housekeeping for friends” (p. 185). This has allowed home care to quickly become a......paper business. The regulatory agencies that set standards for hospice are Medicare, the National Hospice Organization, Joint Commission on Accreditation of HealthCare Organizations (JCAHO), and state hospice agencies. I have found that the contents of the medical record in a hospice program contain a great deal of identifying information regarding the patient and their primary caregivers. All aspects of patient care are well documented and ensure continuous and well-coordinated care. The medical record serves as a communication tool between different team members and is used on an ongoing basis throughout patient care. Conclusion While there are many options other than those listed for healthcare after discharge from a hospital, the most important aspect for a person is to be knowledgeable and knowledgeable about the variety of options available. It can be very confusing, especially for an older person, when talking about finances, regulations, and covered and uncovered items. It is our responsibility as future healthcare administrators to provide adequate information to the person choosing alternatives to healthcare.