Re-Engineered Discharge Program

Project Re-Engineered Discharge is a research group at Boston University Medical Center that develops and tests strategies to improve the hospital discharge process in a way that promotes patient safety and reduces re-hospitalization rates. The RED (re-engineered discharge) intervention is founded on 11 discrete, mutually reinforcing components and has been proven to reduce rehospitalizations and yields high rates of patient satisfaction.

The RED process delivered by a nurse using the AHCP tool compared with usual care show a 30% lower rate of hospital utilization in the intervention group in 30 days of discharge One readmission or emergency department visit was prevented for every 7.3 subjects receiving the intervention, at an average savings of $412 per patient.

• Components of the RED
• Educate the patient about diagnosis throughout the hospital stay. 
• Make appointments for follow-up and post-discharge testing,with input from the patient about time and date.
• Discuss with the patient any tests not completed in the hospital.
• Organize post-discharge services.
• Confirm the medication plan.
• Reconcile the discharge plan with national guidelines and critical pathways.
• Review with the patient appropriate steps of what to do if a problem arises.
• Expedite transmission of the discharge summary to clinicians accepting care of the patient.
• Assess the patient’s understanding of this plan.
• Give the patient a written discharge plan.
• Call the patient 2-3 days after discharge to reinforce the discharge plan and help with problem-solving.