Which policy dictates the discharge clearance process for patients at a military treatment facility?

• A. Local policy
• B. DOD policy
• C. MPF policy
• D. Air Force policy

Answer: (A)

Discharge clearance for patients at a military treatment facility is set by the facility’s local policy. This local policy lays out the exact steps, who reviews readiness, and the checks required before a patient leaves—things like medication reconciliation, arranging follow-up care, and completing the necessary documentation. While higher-level DoD or service policies provide broad guidance, they don’t prescribe the facility-specific workflow. MPF policy deals with personnel processing rather than clinical discharge procedures. Because the discharge clearance process must fit the particular resources and workflows of a given facility, the local policy is the governing mechanism.