​Anne Arundel Medical Center
Annapolis, Maryland

The SMART Discharge Protocol (Signs, Medications, Appointments, Results, and Talk with me) was developed to improve care for patients and families and to improve the discharge process. The tools include the SMART Discharge Checklist for patients and families, FAQs for health care staff and clinicians about implementing the SMART Discharge Protocol, a presentation, and a self-learning packet.

Background
This content was initially created as part of the Picker Institute’s Always Events Program. Always Events refer to aspects of the patient experience that are so important to patients and families that health care providers should reliably implement the events 100 percent of the time.