Patients’ perceptions and rating of Discharge Communication have long perplexed leaders, staff and physicians across America’s Hospitals and Health Systems. Discharge Communication is measured by two items in the HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Survey):
1. During this hospital stay, did the doctors, nurses or other hospital staff talk with you about whether you would have
the help you needed after you left the hospital?
2. During this hospital stay, did you get information in writing about what symptoms or health problems to look out for
after you left the hospital?
These questions are evaluated based on a Yes or No scale. While 100% of our patients tend to receive discharge instructions, on average only 87% of patients report receiving written information to prepare them for discharge (Hospital Compare).