The Association for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has shared two no-cost resources to aid hospital leaders in improving the discharge planning process and reducing avoidable readmissions.
The Re-Engineered Discharge (RED) Toolkit outlines 12 steps that hospitals across the country have used to successfully reduce unnecessary readmissions through research-based interventions.
Taking Care of Myself: A Guide for When I Leave the Hospital (Cómo cuidarme: Guia para cuando salga del hospital) can be used by nurses and discharge planners to help patients care for themselves after their hospital stay. This free booklet (publication #AHRQ 10-0059) comes in a bilingual flipbook format (English/Spanish), and hospitals can order up to 500 copies of the guide at no charge.
Contact the AHRQ Clearinghouse at 1.800.358.9295 or AHRQPubs@ahrq.hhs.gov and reference “CODE 44” to receive free shipping. The resources are available only while supplies last.