title: Implementing Patient-Oriented Discharge Summaries (PODS): A Multisite Pilot Across Early Adopter Hospitals.
abstract: Communication gaps when patients transition from hospital to either home or community can be problematic. Partnership between Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network (TC LHIN) and OpenLab addressed this through the Patient-Oriented Discharge Summaries (PODS) project. From January through March 2015, eight hospital departments across Toronto came together to implement the PODS, a tool previously developed through a co-design process involving patients, caregivers and providers. This paper presents data on how the hospitals came together and the impact of PODS on the patient and provider experience across these hospitals and discusses it implications.
authors.affiliation: Postdoctoral fellow at OpenLab and a postdoctoral visitor at the School of Health Policy and Management at York University, with interests in operational modelling and patient experience research.
authors.forename: Shoshana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hahn-Goldberg
authors.affiliation: Clinical associate, General Internal Medicine, University Health Network, is a general internist with experience in disparities and health services research and interests in improving patient experience during transitions of care.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okrainec
authors.affiliation: Senior planner/epidemiologist at Toronto Central LHIN working on equity, quality, patient experience and mental health and addictions.
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Damba
authors.affiliation: Creative director at OpenLab at the University Health Network.
authors.forename: Tai
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Huynh
authors.affiliation: With the Office of Patient Experience and Outcomes, Mount Sinai Hospital.
authors.forename: Davina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: Project manager, Clinical Adoption, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, as part of the Collaborative Practice team, leads the activities related to improvement and enhancement of the Electronic Health Record with a focus on change management and interprofessional collaboration. Joanne is currently leading the implementation of Holland Bloorview's consumer health portal, connect2care, which allows clients and families online access to their health information and supports their engagement in care.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maxwell
authors.affiliation: Collaborative practice leader at St. Joseph's Health Centre. Ryan leads hospital initiatives aimed at improving the quality of care and patient experience.
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McGuire
authors.affiliation: Director of Quality, Patient Safety and Risk at the Bridgepoint Site of the Sinai Health System.
authors.forename: Lily
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Executive director of OpenLab at UHN and a staff general internist at University Health Network in Toronto.
authors.forename: Howard B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Abrams
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D009864:Ontario; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects