MANAGING CARE TRANSITIONS

Before a hospital visit, it’s expected that you might feel nervous, but there’s no need to worry about your doctor making a mistake. Medical errors are rare and often occur during care transitions, such as moving from the ER to an inpatient bed or switching doctors. Ineffective management of these transitions can lead to errors due to miscommunication. An expert health advisor can help mitigate risk by managing these transitions so you can focus on staying healthy.

Misplaced records, interrupted medication regimens, and overlooked details are common issues during transitions. The Joint Commission, a nonprofit that accredits 22,000 healthcare organizations and sets care standards, found that up to 80 percent of serious medical errors involve miscommunication during the handoff between medical providers. Keep these four actions in mind during care transitions:

1. Plan ahead

Keep a list of medications, allergies, and medical history on hand. This way, if your medical records are not quickly transferred from one provider to another, you can supply this information yourself.

2. Ask questions

Ensure you understand your care and treatment decisions. If something your healthcare provider says doesn’t make sense to you, ask for clarity.

3. Bring support

Have a family member, friend, or health advisor with you. Also consider using Abridge to record your appointments.

4. Facilitate communication

Request that your providers communicate directly. If your physician is referring you to a physical therapist, for example, encourage them to speak before your first PT appointment.

The Wellworth team has assisted many people with care transitions, including moving from rehabilitation facilities to sober living arrangements, discharging from hospitals to long-term care, changing doctors after moving to a new city, or arranging for home health care.