Asking questions, asking for a plan, and making sure you know what to do if your symptoms get worse can help you stay out of the hospital. If a patient's hospital does not provide similar tools, the Care About Your Care discharge preparation checklist and care transition plan can help patients and caregivers keep track of their care plan after leaving the hospital.
The discharge preparation checklist can help patients and caregivers track all the information they should understand before leaving the hospital, including:
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Overall care plan
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Where the patient is going after discharge
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Who to contact if a problem arises during transfer
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Medication instructions and potential side effects
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What symptoms to watch for
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Necessary follow-up appointments
The care transition plan can help keep patients and caregivers keep track of important information in one place, including:
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What symptoms to watch for and how to respond
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Scheduled follow-up appointments
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Contact information for hospital, primary, and home health providers, as well as pharmacy
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Medications, what each does, and how to take each, and when to take each