title: Development of a checklist of safe discharge practices for hospital patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Discharge from hospital can be a vulnerable period for patients. Multifaceted "discharge bundles" facilitate care transitions and possibly decrease adverse outcomes. We describe a structured approach to discharge planning, starting from admission and proceeding through discharge, using a standardized checklist of tasks to be performed for each hospitalization day.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To create an evidence-based checklist of safe discharge practices for hospital patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the province of Ontario, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care convened a panel of expert members from multiple disciplines and across several healthcare sectors. The panel conducted a systematic search of the literature and used a structured approach to review evidence-based practices that ensure efficient, effective, safe, and patient-centered care transitions. A discharge-checklist tool was created to facilitate safe discharge from hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The final checklist describes the processes necessary for a safe and optimal discharge and recommended timeline of when to complete each step, starting from the first day of admission. The checklist domains include (1) indication for hospitalization, (2) primary care, (3) medication safety, (4) follow-up plans, (5) home-care referral, (6) communication with outpatient providers, and (7) patient education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Checklist of Safe Discharge Practices for Hospital Patients summarizes the sequence of events that need to be completed throughout a typical hospitalization. Standardizing discharge planning and initiating processes early on in a patient's hospital stay may ensure a safe transition home.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. csoong@mtsinai.on.ca
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Soong
authors.forename: Stacey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daub
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Majewski
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Musing
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nord
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wyman
authors.forename: G Ross
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zacharopoulos
authors.forename: Chaim M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bell
mesh_terms: D057189:Checklist / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D009864:Ontario; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D016730:Program Development / Q000592:standards*