Patients who are discharged from the hospital should have a smooth transition to their home or other discharge setting. Hospital staff work with the patient and caregivers to make a plan for care after the patient leaves the hospital. Patients and caregivers should understand their treatment plan for medical care and medications. The treatment plan should include information about calling their doctor if they have certain symptoms, making appointments with their doctors, and visits from home care clinicians.

About this measure

The question related to this measure was: “During this hospital stay… How well did patient understand the type of care they would need after leaving the hospital?” Possible responses are Never, Sometimes, Usually, and Always. The measure reflects the percentage of respondents who answered Always to this question. 

In this case a higher number is better.