Checklist
Hospital Discharge Checklist
Essential questions to ask and tasks to complete before bringing your loved one home.
Why Discharge Planning Is So Critical
Hospital discharge can feel rushed.
Families are often handed paperwork, prescriptions, and follow-up instructions — and expected to manage the rest.
But the first 7–14 days after discharge are one of the highest-risk periods for complications and readmissions.
Many readmissions occur because:
- Medication instructions were unclear
- Symptoms were not monitored closely
- Follow-up appointments were missed
- Mobility needs were underestimated
- The home was not prepared
- No one was coordinating the full picture
This checklist is designed to prevent those breakdowns.
Before Leaving the Hospital
1. Understand the Diagnosis Clearly
Ask:
- ✔What exactly was treated?
- ✔What symptoms should improve — and when?
- ✔What warning signs require immediate action?
Write the answers down.
Clarity prevents confusion later.
2. Review Medication Changes
Medication errors are one of the leading causes of readmission.
Confirm:
- ✔What medications were stopped?
- ✔What new medications were added?
- ✔What doses changed?
- ✔What time should each be taken?
- ✔Are there side effects to monitor?
Request a printed, reconciled medication list before leaving.
3. Confirm Follow-Up Appointments
Before discharge:
- ✔Schedule primary care follow-up
- ✔Schedule specialist visits
- ✔Confirm lab work dates
- ✔Clarify therapy referrals
Do not assume someone else will schedule these.
4. Clarify Mobility & Equipment Needs
Ask:
- ✔Is a walker or cane required?
- ✔Is a bedside commode recommended?
- ✔Are grab bars needed?
- ✔Is physical therapy required?
Ensure all equipment is delivered before returning home.
Preparing the Home
5. Remove Fall Risks
- ✔Clear pathways
- ✔Improve lighting
- ✔Secure rugs
- ✔Prepare bathroom safety supports
Post-hospital weakness significantly increases fall risk.
6. Plan for Daily Assistance
Ask honestly:
- ✔Can transfers be managed safely?
- ✔Can medications be managed independently?
- ✔Is overnight supervision needed?
Overestimating independence is one of the most common mistakes after discharge.
The First 72 Hours at Home
7. Monitor Closely
Track:
- ✔Appetite
- ✔Hydration
- ✔Pain levels
- ✔Energy
- ✔Swelling
- ✔Breathing
- ✔Confusion
Small changes often signal larger complications.
8. Reinforce Instructions
- ✔Follow wound care instructions exactly
- ✔Confirm therapy exercises are performed correctly
- ✔Ensure medications are taken at correct times
Consistency matters more than intensity.
Where Families Often Struggle
Even with the best intentions, families frequently experience:
- Overwhelm
- Confusion about medications
- Uncertainty about symptom severity
- Difficulty coordinating multiple providers
- Missed early warning signs
This is where structured support becomes critical.
How Coastal Care Partners Prevents Readmissions
Unlike traditional home care agencies that simply provide staffing, Coastal Care Partners activates a coordinated discharge support plan.
Our approach includes:
- ✔Nurse Care Manager review of discharge instructions
- ✔Full medication reconciliation
- ✔In-home caregiver support from day one
- ✔Real-time documentation of changes
- ✔Pattern monitoring across days — not isolated observations
- ✔Communication with physicians when concerns arise
- ✔Ensuring follow-up appointments are completed
Caregivers observe.
Nurses interpret.
Families are guided.
This integrated structure dramatically reduces the risk of avoidable readmission.
When to Seek Structured Discharge Support
Strongly consider coordinated support when:
- Multiple medications were changed
- A fall or mobility issue occurred
- There are cognitive concerns
- The hospital stay was longer than 3 days
- There is a history of readmissions
- The family lives out of town
- You feel uncertain about managing everything alone
The most dangerous phrase after discharge is:
"We'll figure it out."
Final Thought
Discharge is not the end of a hospital stay.
It is the beginning of recovery at home.
The difference between stability and readmission often comes down to coordination.
At Coastal Care Partners, we do not leave families to manage the transition alone.
We lead it.