Increasing numbers of aged patients and decreasing available resources pose challenges to patient discharge processes now and in the future. The continuous development of the discharge process is a precondition of patient safety and cost efficiency. It is important that cooperation between various operators is made as smooth as possible.

The aim of this thesis is to contribute to the development of discharge procedures together with the operational units of public health care located in Valkeakoski. The planning and workshops related to the development of the discharge process were implemented at the Valkeakoski campus. The thesis was commissioned by the operational health care units participating in the development process. The topic, the preconditions of successful discharge, was suggested by the heads of the development work group. The aim of the thesis was to discover the preconditions of successful discharge and development needs therein based on both the workshops and a literature review.

The study was conducted using qualitative research methodology. The materials were collected using the participant observation method by taking part in two development work group workshops between November 2015 and January 2016. Notes were taken of the observations. The materials were analyzed using inductive content analysis.

According to the study results, preconditions for successful discharge are wellfunctioning multiprofessional cooperation, customeroriented guidance and discharge process that is started early enough. Previous research on the discharge process supports these observations. The most important development targets were insufficient recording of the process, flow of information as well as better practical implementation of discharge. The results of the thesis can be used in discharge processes between various healthcare providers.