Hospital and Discharge Forms
Child History & Hospital Discharge Packet- Developed by The Center for Infants and Children with Special Needs: Children's Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati

Success or failure of the transition home is very dependent on how well the discharge is set up. Anticipation and timing are the keys, waiting to the last minute is the way to fail. The physician, nurse, social worker must be able to assess the present and future needs, abilities, and resources of the patient and family.

These forms are intended to be completed by the primary care physician and staff. The packet of forms are divided into 2 parts. They are done in Microsoft Word. These forms can be updated and or modified to meet the needs of your patients and families.

The Child History and Fact Sheet reviews personal information, caregivers/providers, environmental information, financial/insurance information, community services, home care services, special issues, etc. It should remain in the child's chart in a place that is easily accessible.

The Discharge Packet is to be started the day the child is admitted to the hospital. There are multiple providers and systems involved in the care of a child with special needs. Therefore, updating all of this information and being aware of what services are available to a child and family at the day of admit, will assist in a smooth transition home, decrease the chance for readmit, and help prepare the medical home team on how to successfully care for a child at home. This form can be given to the family upon discharge if a plan of care is not available.

ICU Daily Goals Worksheet
Clear communication among residents and nurses during daily rounds in the intensive care unit is a key to safe, effective care. After implementing the use of a daily goals worksheet, the mean length of stay in an ICU at Johns Hopkins Hospital decreased from 2.2 days to 1.1 days. To download this tool you will need to register (for FREE) with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) web site. To register and read the abstract of the article, click here .