Quality of Care Transitions

Patients transitioning between healthcare settings or home are especially vulnerable. Effective communication is essential to maintain patient safety and reduce adverse events. 

Shifting care between healthcare facilities or to the patient and their family or caregivers is difficult, especially for those managing complex health conditions and multiple medications.

• One study estimates that 80% of serious medical errors involve miscommunication during the hand-off between medical providers.
• Nearly half of all American adults—90 million people—have difficulty understanding and acting upon health information.
• People affected by multiple chronic conditions are at risk of early mortality, poor functional status, and hospitalization. They also face significant out-of-pocket expenses for healthcare and prescription drugs.

Continual communication among the patient, their providers and their caregivers ensures individual medical needs, health status, and personal values are addressed, especially during care transitions. Promoting shared decision making methods, hospital discharge protocols and risk assessments would ensure patient safety and improve the overall patient experience.

Opioids are highly addictive narcotic substances commonly prescribed for chronic pain after surgery or injury. Opioids must be used with extreme caution even though they can provide powerful relief for those struggling with chronic pain.

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