Safe Discharge from the Emergency Department

Revised June 2025
Originally approved June 2019

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) recognizes the social, societal, and physical determinants of health often affect patients discharged from the emergency department (ED). ACEP also recognizes fundamental differences in resource allocation for patients discharged from inpatient stays versus ED encounters. Furthermore, ACEP believes that the decision to discharge a patient from the ED should be a purely clinical decision made by the treating physician or emergency physician who cares for that patient and deems the patient stable and safe for discharge. ACEP opposes institutional or governmental discharge protocols or mandates which override the clinical judgment of the treating physician.