Hospital to Post Acute Transfer

Purpose

To improve patients’ transitions of care and ultimately outcomes through the development and uniform adoption of a consistent hospital electronic medical record discharge summary.

Description

Patients who transition to home care, long-term care facilities or to care provided by their primary care physicians often encounter imcomplete discharge information or a delay in receiving information.

The Council convened an EMR Discharge Summary Task Force of clinical and technical experts from hospitals and other health care organizations across the region to develop a consistent hospital electronic medical record discharge summary that supports:

• Better communication between hospitals and community-based care providers

• More effective care

• Reduction in errors, readmissions and costs

• Reduction in redundancy and/or delay (in ordering tests, medical equipment, etc.)

Specific Goals

Participating hospitals agreed on the common data set for the standardized EMR discharge form – the critical data elements that help reduce the likelihood of readmissions. Hospitals are now using the form, and IT experts have begun work to facilitate this continuity of care form electronically.

Click here to view the Recommended Discharge Data Elements.

Health Council Contact
For more information, contact Dora Anim or Erin Hart.