As the social and health services of Liperi and Outokumpu were united at the beginning of 2009, it was decided that service chains will be analysed and service processes will be described. The purpose of these actions was to improve both productivity and to ensure the quality and availability of social and health services. The aim of this practice-based thesis was to describe the client-oriented discharge process from health centre to home.

A survey was carried out to gather information about the actual practices and development targets. The results of the survey, actual discharge instructions and practices and information acquired through PALKO-project and earlier studies were used in this discharge process description. The process modelling was carried out according to the JHS 152-recommendation and using the Microsoft Visio 2007 computer program. The output was estimated with the representatives of the commissioning organisation in different phases of the process.

According to the results, the development concerning a client’s discharge is experienced as important. Multidisciplinary cooperation, improvement of information dissemination, increasing the efficiency of a seamless care and service chain, better utilisation of data systems and improving the client-oriented approach were the main development needs.

As a result of the thesis, the discharge process was described both visually and in writing. Further development of the process description, the development of the client feedback and quality system and organising process training for nursing staff could be mentioned as future development needs.