Medication management when transitioning from hospital to home 

Transitions between hospital and home can involve changes to your medications. If changes to your medications occur, it is important to understand what the changes were, why they occurred, and their duration (e.g. were medications changed while in hospital, will they be changed once you return home).

We have included some strategies to help you manage your medications when transitioning from hospital to home.

• Request a list of your medications. This list should include information about your medications, including any:
  • Changes made to medications during your hospital stay
  • Information about dosages and prescribed refills
  • When to take medications
  • What each medication is for
• Physicians will often provide an after-visit summary Document given to a patient after a medical encounter to summarize their visit and health. Usually contains information like diagnoses, treatment plan, medications, and follow-up instructions. upon discharge from the hospital. Upon discharge, you may ask if a written medication summary can be provided to you and request that it be organized by ongoing medications, new/changed medications, stopped medications
• Request that the after-visit summary Document given to a patient after a medical encounter to summarize their visit and health. Usually contains information like diagnoses, treatment plan, medications, and follow-up instructions. that contains all details related to your hospital stay is sent to your family doctor or nurse practitioner (if a medication is prescribed, you can ask for the script to be sent directly to your pharmacist)
• During your hospital stay, ask questions if anything is unclear. See Module 4: Common questions to ask healthcare providers.
• Know who to contact if you have questions about your medications once you get home (e.g. community care nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist)
• Know what will be required of you to take medications at home and if support will be needed.
  • For example, suppose you will need to check your blood pressure at home before taking a certain medication. If so, will you have the support to do that?
  • Advocate for services that you feel you will need at home. Refer to Module 3 for self-advocacy The ability to speak up for yourself and the things that are important to you. tips.
• On hospital admission, transfer, and discharge, you should have medication review conducted. This will help ensure that there is consistency across different settings and any changes made to your medications will be carried forward appropriately.