Your

Discharge
Planning
Checklist:
For patients and their caregivers
preparing to leave a hospital, nursing home,
or other health care setting
NAME:
Reason for admission:
During your stay, your doctor and the staff will work with you to plan
for your discharge. You and your caregiver are important members of the
planning team. A caregiver is a family member or friend who may be helping
you after discharge. Below is a checklist of important things you and your
caregiver should know to prepare for discharge.

Instructions:
• Use the checklist early and often during your stay.
• Talk to your doctor and the staff (for example, a discharge planner, social worker, or
nurse) about the items on the checklist.
• Check the box next to each item when you and your caregiver complete it.
• Use the notes column to write down important information like names and phone
numbers.
• Skip any items that don’t apply to you.

ACTION ITEMS NOTES

What’s Ahead?
††
Ask where you will get care after discharge. Do you
have options? Be sure you tell the staff what you
prefer.

††
If a family member or friend will be helping you after
discharge, write down the name and phone number.

Your Condition
††
Ask the staff about your health condition and what
you can do to help yourself get better.

††
Ask about problems to watch for and what to do
about them. Write down a name and phone number
to call if you have problems.
 NOTES
††
Use the space called “My Drug List” to write down
your prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs,
vitamins, and herbal supplements.

† Review the list with the staff.

† Tell the staff what drugs, vitamins, or supplements
you took before you were admitted. Ask if you
should still take these after you leave.
† Write down a name and phone number to call if
you have questions.

Recovery and Support

††
Ask if you will need medical equipment (like a
walker). Who will arrange for this? Write down where
to call if you have questions about equipment.

††
Ask if you’re ready to do the activities listed below.
Circle the ones you need help with and tell the staff.
• Bathing, dressing, using the bathroom, climbing
stairs
• Cooking, food shopping, house cleaning, paying
bills
• Getting to doctors’ appointments, picking up
prescription drugs
††
Ask the staff to show you and your caregiver any
other tasks that require special skills like changing
a bandage or giving a shot. Then, show them you
can do these tasks. Write down a name and phone
number to call if you need help.

††
Ask to speak to a social worker if you’re concerned
about how you and your family are coping with your
illness. Write down information about support groups
and other resources.

††
Talk to a social worker or your health plan if you
have questions about what your insurance will cover,
and how much you will have to pay. Ask about
possible ways to get help with your costs.
 ACTION ITEMS NOTES
††
Ask for written discharge instructions that you can
read and understand and a summary of your current
health status. Bring this information and your drug
list with you to your follow-up appointments.

††
Use the space called “My Appointments” to write
down any appointments and tests you will need in
the next several weeks.

For the Caregiver

††
Do you have any questions about the items on this
checklist? Write them down and discuss them with
the staff.
††
Can you give the patient the help he or she needs?
†† Talk to the staff about your concerns.
†† Write down a name and phone number to call if
you have questions.

††
Get prescriptions and any special diet instructions
early, so you won’t have to make extra trips after
discharge.

If you need help choosing a home health agency or a nursing home, talk to the staff. Visit
www.medicare.gov to compare the quality of nursing homes, home health agencies, dialysis
facilities, and hospitals in your area. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.

Medicare Discharge Appeal Rights: If you have Medicare and feel you’re being asked to leave
a hospital or other health care setting too soon, you may have the right to ask for a review of
the discharge decision by an independent reviewer called a Quality Improvement Organization
(QIO) before you leave. The QIO can explain your appeal rights. To get the number for the QIO
in your state, call 1-800-MEDICARE.

*This publication isn’t a legal document. The official Medicare Program legal guidance is
contained in the relevant statutes, regulations, and rulings. The information in this publication
was correct when it was printed. Call 1-800-MEDICARE, or visit www.medicare.gov to get the
most current information.
 My Drug List as of (date): _________________
Include prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

DRUG NAME WHAT IT DOES DOSE HOW TO TAKE IT WHEN TO TAKE IT NOTES

My Appointments
APPOINTMENTS AND TESTS DATE PHONE NUMBER
Resources
The agencies listed here have information on community services,
like home-delivered meals and rides to appointments. You can
also get help making long-term care decisions. Ask a social worker
in your health care setting for more information on community
services and support.

Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs): Help adults age 60 and older and their caregivers. To find
the AAA in your area, call The Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 weekdays from
9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (EST), or visit www.eldercare.gov.
Long-Term Care (LTC) Ombudsman Program: Advocate for, and promote the rights of,
residents in LTC facilities. Visit www.Ltcombudsman.org.
Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs): Offer resources to help people of all
incomes and ages stay independent. Visit www.adrc-tae.org.
Centers for Independent Living (CILs): Help people with disabilities live independently.
For a state-by-state directory of CILs, visit
www.ilru.org/html/publications/directory/index.html.
State Technology Assistance Project: Has information on medical equipment and other
assistive technology. Call 1-703-524-6686 to get the contact information for your state, or visit
www.resna.org.
National Long-Term Care Clearinghouse: Provides information and resources to plan for
your long-term care needs. Visit www.longtermcare.gov.
National Council on Aging: Provides information about programs that help pay for
prescription drugs, utility bills, meals, health care, and more. Visit www.benefitscheckup.org.
State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP): Offer counseling on health
insurance and programs for people with limited income. Also help with claims, billing, and
appeals. Visit www.medicare.gov/contacts/Default.aspx, or call 1-800-MEDICARE
(1-800-633-4227) to get your SHIP’s number. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.
State Medical Assistance (Medicaid) office: Provides information about Medicaid. To find
your local office, call 1-800-MEDICARE and say, “Medicaid.” You can also visit
www.medicare.gov.
Medicare: For more information about what Medicare covers, call 1-800-MEDICARE, or visit
www.medicare.gov.

CMS Product No. 11376

Revised April 2010