Discharge Planning: Hospital to Home Transitions for Infants

Abstract

The transition of families between hospital-based and community-based care is problematic from a number of perspectives, but it can be enhanced by a systematic communication process. Both families and practitioners benefit from the coordination of information through a formalized discharge summary. For families, especially, the importance of a planned process and succinct summary for discharge cannot be overemphasized. This transition will be the first of many they will make with their child between programs and service providers.