DISCHARGE
COMMUNICATION
BY: ELIANA VELAZQUEZ, RN & YOLANDA ENG, RN
PROBLEM
PATIENTS ADDRESSED MULTIPLE CONCERNS REGARDING THE DISORGANIZATION OF
DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS. THE ADDRESSED CONCERNS WERE IN REGARDS TO FOLLOW-UP
APPOINTMENTS, PRESCRIPTIONS, TESTS, GENERAL INFORMATION AND EDUCATION.
THE SOLUTION WAS TO DEVELOP DISCHARGE TABS (5 DIVIDERS, AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH OR
SPANISH)
1. PRESCRIPTIONS - RECETAS
2.FOLLOW UP APPTS - CONSULTS/CITAS/CONSULTAS
3. LABS/TESTS LABORATORIA/EXAMENES
4. PATIENT EDUCATION - EDUCACION
5. MISC. - MISELANEO
PICO
P- PATIENT/POPULATION: WOMENS SURGICAL, WEST TOWER 3, & THOMASON TOWER 3
I- INTERVENTION: IMPLEMENT THE USE OF DISCHARGE TABS BY PLACING THE TABS IN
ADMIMISSION FOLDER LOCATED IN PATIENTS ROOM AND ORGANIZING THE DISCHARGE
INSTRUCTIONS BY CATEGORY.
C- COMPARISON: THE USE OF ADMISSION FOLDER ONLY
O- OUTCOME: TO ACHIEVE AN INCREASE IN HOSPITAL CONSUMER ASSESSMENT OF
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND SYSTEMS (HCAHPS) INPATIENT CORE SURVEY BY NURSING
UNITS SCORES IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: NURSE COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATIONS
ABOUT MEDICATIONS, DISCHARGE INFORMATION AND TRANSITION OF CARE
ADMISSION FOLDER & DISCHARGE TABS
PURPOSE OF THOSE AREAS
NURSE COMMUNICATION:
- CLEAR COMMUNICATION BY NURSES
COMMUNICATION ABOUT MEDICATIONS:
- EXPLANATION OF NEW MEDICINES
- COMMUNICATION OF POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
DISCHARGE INFORMATION:
- TALKING TO PATIENTS ABOUT HELP AFTER DISCHARGE
- PROVIDING WRITTEN DISCHARGE INSTRUCTION
TRANSITION OF CARE:
- TALKING TO PATIENT AND FAMILY REGARDING NEEDS AFTER DISCHARGE
- PATIENT HAD A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF INSTRUCTIONS
- PATIENT UNDERSTOOD PURPOSE FOR TAKING MEDICATION PRESCRIBED AT
DISCHARGE
EVIDENCE BASED PROJECT QUESTION
WILL THE USE OF THE DISCHARGE TABS IMPROVE HCAHPS INPATIENT CORE
SURVEY BY NURSING UNITS SCORES IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: NURSE
COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT MEDICATIONS, DISCHARGE
INFORMATION AND TRANSITION OF CARE?
IMPORTANCE OF EVIDENCE BASED PROJECT
QUESTION
BECAUSE CLEAR COMMUNICATION FROM NURSES TO PATIENTS ALLOW FOR
FULL UNDERSTANDING OF FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENTS, REFERRAL
INFORMATION INSTRUCTIONS AFTER DISCHARGE AND DIRECTIONS ON HOW
MEDICATION IS TAKEN, THE PURPOSE OF THE MEDICATION, THE DOSE AND
THE SIDE EFFECTS OF THE MEDICATION.
DATA COLLECTION