Planning for a Discharge from a Healthcare Facility

One in five Medicare patients is readmitted to the hospital within 30 days after discharge. To avoid return visits, it’s important for patients and families to play an active role during the discharge planning.

Make sure that these four important steps (see a related video) are completed before leaving the care of a hospital, nursing home, or other healthcare facility:

• Medicine checklist: For each medicine you are taking, make sure that you have information about what the medicine is for, how to take it correctly, and what side effects to watch out for. (See resources for managing your medications.)
   
• “Red Flag” list: Nearly every illness comes with some signs—“red flags”—that will tell you that you may be having problems or that you need to check with your doctor. Before leaving the hospital or nursing home, know what to watch out for.
   
• Follow-up appointments: An important part of taking care of yourself after you leave a hospital or other care facility is to be sure to call your primary care doctor to make an appointment right away. When it’s time for discharge, have an action plan to make that appointment. In addition, ask your care team if you need to schedule any lab work or other tests.
   
• Personal Health Record: A personal health record is a powerful tool that allows patients to organize, store, and keep track of health information. Be sure yours is up to date so that you can share detailed information about your hospital or care facility visit with your primary care doctor and any caregivers who may be helping you at home.

Medicare also provides a more extensive checklist for patients and their families to use when preparing to leave a hospital, nursing home, or other healthcare facility: English version. Spanish version.