The October 2008 program is now full. If you would like to be placed on an interest list for future offerings, please contact Greta Retterath at (617) 301-4958 or gretterath@ihi.org.

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A comprehensive and reliable discharge plan, along with post discharge support, can reduce readmission rates, improve health outcomes, and assure quality transitions. To help organizations achieve these goals, IHI is proud to offer Hospital to Home: Optimizing the Transition. This two-day seminar will assist teams in enhancing communications, supporting patients and families, eliminating waste, and improving workflow using ideas that have been tested in an IHI Learning and Innovation Community.

When a patient’s transition from the hospital to home is less than optimal, the repercussions can be far-reaching, including readmissions to the hospital, adverse medical events, and in some cases, mortality. Poorly designed discharge processes also create unnecessary stress for medical staff, who experience failed communications, as well as unnecessary delays and frustrations. If patients have insufficient information and understanding of their diagnoses, medication, and self-care needs, they cannot appropriately participate in their care during hospital stays and upon returning home. Insufficient communication also creates unnecessary confusion — as well as opportunities for errors — during handoffs to community providers, such as physician practices, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and home care providers.

Listen to a recording of the July 15 information call about the program.