discharge
Meaning of discharge: Discharge refers either to fluid released from the body or to a patient's formal release from a hospital or other care setting.
Definition of discharge
Discharge has two distinct meanings in a medical context. In the first sense, it refers to fluid that comes out of the body, such as from the eyes, ears, nose, vagina, or a wound, which can be a normal, healthy occurrence or a sign of infection or another underlying condition depending on its appearance, amount, and the circumstances in which it occurs.
In the second sense, discharge refers to a patient's formal release from a hospital, clinic, or other care setting once further inpatient care is no longer considered necessary. A hospital discharge typically includes instructions for continuing care at home, arrangements for any needed follow up, and a summary of the person's diagnosis and treatment during the stay.
Because the word discharge covers such different meanings, the surrounding context of a sentence or a medical record generally makes clear which sense is intended.
Used in a sentence
The nurse reviewed home care instructions with the patient before discharge.
Good to know
Discharge describing bodily fluid and discharge describing release from a care setting are unrelated concepts that happen to share a single word, so the surrounding context in a note determines which meaning applies.