A large share of readmissions after discharge come from preventable causes — medication mix-ups, missed follow-ups, symptoms noticed late — and most happen in the first week. This checklist structures that week for families and caregivers.
Discharge day
- Keep the discharge summary as PDF/photo; separate the NEW medication list from the OLD one — mixing the two is the most common error.
- Write when, with/without food and at what dose each medication is taken on one page; set up medication reminders in WellFamily.
- Book the follow-up before leaving the hospital; if no date, call within 48 hours.
- Ask the physician 'Which symptoms mean we should return to the ER?' and write down the answer (e.g. fever >38, breathlessness, wound discharge).
First 72 hours
- Blood pressure/pulse twice daily (plus weight after cardiac stays); enter values in the app — the connected physician gets automatic threshold alerts.
- Ask about pain twice daily on a 0-10 scale; increasing pain is not 'settling in'.
- Photograph the wound/stitches once a day — growing redness shows early in comparison.
- Note eating and bathroom patterns; 48 hours of constipation or appetite loss warrants a call.
First week
- Re-assess fall risk: the first week after discharge is the peak week for falls (weakness + new medications). Non-slip slippers, night light, bathroom support.
- Don''t send them to the follow-up alone; write questions in advance and have someone accompany.
- Review medication adherence at week''s end: if missed doses exceed 20%, shift reminder times to the real routine.
- Share the load: the first week does not work with one person 24/7 — short-term professional support exists exactly for this week.
The partner-hospital advantage
If your hospital partners with WellFamily, the discharging physician monitors your measurements remotely with your consent, sees threshold alerts on their panel and receives a weekly summary. By the follow-up visit, the data is already in front of them.
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