National Transitions of Care Coalition (NTOCC): Tools for health care professionals, government leaders, patients, and caregivers to raise awareness about transitions of care, increase the quality of care, reduce medication errors, and enhance clinical outcomes American Academy of Nursing: Don't let older adults lie in bed or only get up to a chair during their hospital stay (2014) Discharge Planning and Transfers Early, effective discharge planning has many benefits: Shortening the hospital stay Reducing the likelihood of readmission Identifying less expensive care alternatives Facilitating placement of equipment (eg, hospital bed, oxygen) in the patient's home Helping increase patient satisfaction Possibly preventing placement in a nursing home As soon as a patient is admitted, all members of the interdisciplinary team begin discharge planning.