"After 18 years and more than 5,000 families, I built this checklist so you never have to face that call unprepared."
— Jennifer Veirs, Legacy Planning Professional
Download a free 8-page Hospital Discharge Checklist — 5 phases, every question to ask, and the exact discharge planning questions to ask.
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When your parent is hospitalized, you have hours — not days — to make decisions that protect them. This checklist gives you the exact framework to navigate every phase with clarity and confidence.
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After 18 years and over 5,000 families, I built the Know What to Say — $7 I wished every daughter had before that moment arrived.
Learn more about patients' rights during a hospital stay, and how Medicare protects your ability to appeal a discharge decision. For official guidance on hospital discharge planning, visit the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Common Questions
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A hospital discharge checklist is a structured document that guides family caregivers through every step of a loved one's hospital stay and safe return home. It covers what to gather on admission, questions to ask care team members, how to assess whether the discharge plan feels ready, what to verify before leaving, and the follow-up care steps that prevent readmission. Download the free 8-page version to have it ready before you need it.
You have the right to formally request a discharge review. Ask to speak with the hospital's patient advocate or social worker and say: "I am requesting a Condition of Participation review — I would like to discuss the discharge plan — I do not believe my family member is ready to leave." This triggers a formal review process. Medicare patients can also contact their Beneficiary and Family Centered Care (BFCC) QIO organization to file an immediate appeal. The checklist includes word-for-word scripts to help you navigate discharge planning with confidence.
Start preparing from day one of the hospital stay. Confirm the primary diagnosis, understand the treatment plan, identify the discharge planner, and begin arranging home support or post-acute care early. Ask what criteria must be met before your parent can safely leave. Request all discharge instructions, prescriptions, and follow-up appointments in writing before leaving the building. Our free discharge checklist covers every question to ask at each stage.
The 5 phases are: (1) First 24 Hours — what to gather and who to contact immediately; (2) During the Stay — questions for every care team member; (3) Discharge Planning — how to assess if the discharge plan feels ready; (4) The Moment of Discharge — what to verify before leaving the building; and (5) First 72 Hours Home — the follow-up care plan that prevents readmission.
"After 18 years and more than 5,000 families, I built this checklist so you never have to face that call unprepared."
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