Nurses at the Walnut Creek Medical Center noticed that some of our patients were experiencing longer hospital stays than they’d like, and the team wanted to use innovation to work on getting our patients back home quickly.
After interviewing many patients and staff, our team learned there’s a bit of a gap in understanding when it comes to the discharge process. Sometimes, patients aren’t aware of the things that might be holding up their release, which can make it hard to feel motivated to participate in activities that could help. Sometimes families aren’t able to provide the level of support needed after discharge, which can add to the delay.
To help address this, our team developed the “Road to Discharge” checklist tool. Imagine a visual guide that clearly shows all the tasks and goals needed for the patient’s specific situation, whether it’s related to surgery, a medical condition, or something else. Thorough patient education about their care plan is an included in the tool, and nurses use a “teach-back” method to ensure everyone is on the same page.
We believe that setting clear expectations right from the start will help everyone feel more confident about the discharge timeline. And, involving the patient family and support system every step of the way, so they can be a part of the journey home.
Our goal is to make our patient’s hospital stay as comfortable and efficient as possible, and we’re committed to working with them to ensure a smooth and timely discharge.