Tool integrates caregivers into the discharge plan
The Project RED (Re-Engineered Discharge) toolkit has added a tool to help hospitals integrate family caregivers into the discharge plan so they can be partners in improving transitions and reducing readmissions, according to the American Hospital Association.
The new toolkit chapter structures working with family caregivers into five steps: identifying the family caregiver, assessing the family caregiver’s needs, integrating the family caregiver’s needs into the after-hospital care plan, sharing family caregiver information with the next setting of care, and providing telephone reinforcement of the discharge plan. Developed by researchers at Boston Medical Center, the toolkit includes 12 actions facilities can implement to ensure effective transition at discharge.
Such tools are increasingly important, as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is increasing its emphasis on discharge planning and has developed a worksheet for surveyors to use to determine if hospitals are in compliance with the Conditions of Participation (CoPs). CMS has added categories of patients who might need discharge planning and included same-day surgery patients. (For more information, see "Hospitals: Beef up discharge planning," Same-Day Surgery, August 2014, p. 81.)
To access the toolkit, go to bu.edu/fammed/projectred/toolkit.html. The new toolkit chapter is available at http://bit.ly/1pmA6WB.
