These findings suggest that merely transmitting information is not sufficient. Some follow-up is needed to ensure that patients understand the information as their healthcare providers intend, Dr. Flacker and his colleagues wrote. Anything less might violate the spirit of Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization (JCAHO) standards requiring the clear and routine provision of information to patients.
Because of this study, Grady has revised its discharge sheet so information concerning telephone numbers, medication, and other important details are displayed more prominently. The hospital has retrained its nurses to deliver the information more effectively. Follow-up studies will assess how these changes affect patient comprehension and outcomes.
If hospitalists perceive their responsibility to the patient ending not at hospital discharge, but when the patient resumes seeing his or her primary care physician, then “their job is to ensure that the patient understands the discharge instructions,” Dr. Flacker points out.
He suggests they have a social worker or other staff member call patients within a few days after discharge to see how they’re doing and nip any problems in the bud. Admittedly, “a lot depends on where you want to put your resources,” he says. Time and budgets can be stretched only so far. Nevertheless, he maintains, “Post discharge contact is a critically important piece of the process.” TH
Norra MacReady is a medical writer based in California.