Patients who have congestive heart failure are at high risk of readmission to the hospital within 14 days of discharge. Medication management and adherence is a critical element for guiding patients after discharge.
Use this checklist with your patients during your post-hospital discharge visit.
- When scheduling transition-of-care appointments, remind your patients that they should bring in all the medications they are taking.
- Review patient discharge instructions, especially medication adjustments and changes. Make sure patients and/or their caregivers understand the instructions.
- Review and update the patient’s current medication list.
- Discuss any over-the-counter medications the patient takes at home.
- Discuss any medications that should be stopped or need to be adjusted.
- Explain all medications, especially new prescriptions, and how and when to take them properly.
- Describe potential side effects or complications and when to seek medical attention.
- Consider and review any recent diagnostic test results or studies that will impact the patient’s medications.
- Provide proper contact information for the patient/caregiver to use to reach out with questions, concerns, or new medical problems.
- Provide patient/caregiver education materials. These materials, such as guides and tips on how to keep track of medications and when/how to take them, are often helpful.
- Social determinants often influence medication adherence; consider discussing lifestyle, economic, and social constraints.