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Hospital-to-Home Checklist

Everything to track from discharge day through the first month of recovery

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Planning note: this checklist supports routine recovery coordination and organization. Use it for non-urgent follow-up planning and bring it to your next non-urgent provider visit.

1 Your information

Patient name

Date of birth

Hospital / facility name

Admission date

Room / unit (if known)

Insurance / Medicare ID

Primary contact name

Primary contact phone

2 Before discharge — questions to ask

Complete these while still at the hospital. Don't wait until the day of discharge — start asking as soon as a discharge date is mentioned.

Ask for a printed discharge summary Not just verbal instructions. Request a written copy that includes diagnosis, procedures performed, medications, and follow-up plan.

Confirm all follow-up appointments Get dates, times, locations, and what each appointment is for. Ask whether they've already been scheduled or if you need to call to book them yourself.

Get a complete medication list New medications, changed dosages, and stopped medications — with reasons for each change. Compare this to what was being taken before admission.

Ask: are there medications that need to be picked up before going home? Some prescriptions may need to be filled at the hospital pharmacy or sent electronically before discharge. Don't assume your regular pharmacy has them ready.

Confirm who to call if symptoms change or something doesn't seem right Get a specific name and number — not just "call 911." Ask for the nurse line, on-call number, or the discharging doctor's office line.

Ask about activity restrictions, diet changes, or wound care instructions Get these in writing. Ask the nurse or therapist to walk through them with you or your family member before leaving.

Confirm whether home health, PT, or other services have been ordered If services were discussed, confirm that the orders have actually been placed — not just mentioned. Ask for the agency name and when to expect the first visit.

Ask: will the hospital send records to my primary care doctor automatically? Don't assume records transfer happens on its own. If not, ask how to request that a discharge summary be sent to your PCP.

Get names and direct numbers for the discharge nurse and case manager Write these down before leaving. They're the people to call if something falls through the cracks in the first few days.

3 Discharge day

The day you leave the hospital. Take your time — there's no prize for rushing out.

Review discharge paperwork before leaving Don't sign without reading. If something is unclear or doesn't match what you were told, ask before you leave the building.

Confirm transportation is arranged Whether it's a family member, medical transport, or rideshare — confirm the pickup time and make sure they know where to go.

Pick up prescriptions (or confirm they'll be ready at your pharmacy) Check with the nurse whether prescriptions were sent electronically or if you need to fill them at the hospital pharmacy before leaving.

Take home all personal belongings, medical devices, and any imaging CDs Check drawers, the bathroom, and the closet. If imaging was done during the stay, ask if you can get a CD or USB copy of the scans.

Get a copy of the discharge summary for your own records This is your copy — separate from what gets sent to your doctor. Keep it with your other medical paperwork.

Confirm next-day or next-week follow-up appointment details Before you leave, verify the date, time, location, and provider for your first post-discharge appointment.

Anything unresolved at discharge

4 First week home

The most critical window. Most preventable readmissions happen in the first 7–10 days.

Fill and organize all new prescriptions Make sure every new medication is filled and clearly labeled. Remove or set aside any old medications that were stopped during the hospital stay.

Set up a medication schedule Use a pill organizer, phone reminders, or a written list posted in a visible spot. Include medication name, dose, time, and whether it should be taken with food.

Attend or confirm the first follow-up appointment This is the most important appointment after discharge. If it hasn't been scheduled yet, call the provider's office the first business day after getting home.

Watch for warning signs listed in discharge instructions Review the discharge paperwork for specific symptoms to watch for. Know the difference between "call the doctor" and "go to the ER."

Set up any home health or PT visits that were ordered If the hospital ordered home health or physical therapy, confirm the agency received the referral and schedule the first visit.

Update family members on the current plan and next steps Make sure everyone involved in care knows the medication schedule, appointment dates, activity restrictions, and who to call if something changes.

Follow-up appointment details

Home health agency name + phone

5 Weeks 2–4 recovery

The transition period. Things that were supposed to happen may still need follow-up.

Confirm all specialist referrals have been placed and scheduled If the hospital recommended specialist follow-up, verify that the referral was actually sent and that you have an appointment on the calendar.

Check that primary care doctor received hospital records Call your PCP's office and ask if they received the discharge summary. If not, request that the hospital send it — or bring your own copy.

Follow up on any pending test results or imaging from the hospital stay Some results may not have been finalized before discharge. Ask who is responsible for reviewing them and how you'll be notified.

Reassess home support needs — is current help enough? Recovery needs often change. If the patient needs more help than expected, explore additional home health hours, respite care, or family scheduling adjustments.

Schedule or attend follow-up labs if ordered Some discharge instructions include lab work at 1–2 weeks. Make sure these are scheduled and that results will be sent to the right provider.

Update the medication list if anything changed at follow-up visits Medications are frequently adjusted after the first follow-up. Keep one current, accurate list and share it at every appointment.

Open items to track

6 Care team directory

Keep all your providers and key contacts in one place. Bring this to every appointment.

Provider / Role	Name	Phone	Next appointment

QR code — learn more about hospital discharge coordination

Need help coordinating the transition home? Scan to read our full guide on hospital discharge coordination — and learn how Averyn Care can handle the follow-ups, records, and home health setup for you.

averyncare.com/topics/hospital-discharge-coordination

Hospital-to-Home Checklist

1 Your information

2 Before discharge — questions to ask

3 Discharge day

4 First week home

5 Weeks 2–4 recovery

6 Care team directory

Want someone to coordinate the follow-through?