Final answer:
Health care professionals involved in discharge planning include registered nurses, social workers, and physical therapists. They work collaboratively to ensure the patient's needs are met post-discharge.
Step-by-step explanation:
Discharge planning is a critical aspect of patient care and involves various health care professionals who collaborate to ensure a patient's smooth transition from a hospital to home care or another healthcare facility. The professionals typically involved in this process include a registered nurse, who assesses the patient's ongoing care needs and educates the patient and family about home care procedures. A social worker is also integral, as they assist with the logistics of discharge planning by arranging home care services, patient education, and ensuring the patient's access to necessary resources following discharge. Additionally, a physical therapist may be involved to assess the patient's mobility needs and to design a rehabilitation program to be followed after discharge. In contrast, professionals such as a radiology technician and a laboratory technician, although important in the diagnostic process, are generally not directly involved in discharge planning.