Tips on Making Your Discharge Instructions Easier to Read

Let's take a look at our old discharge instructions and then we'll revisit with a fresher, simplified take on the same instructions:

Old Discharge Instructions

Please follow up with PCP for poor oral intake. Please return to the Emergency Room for difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, fast breathing, blueness around his/her mouth/lips, signs of dehydration (not making a wet diaper at least every 4-6 hours, not making tears when he/she cries).

During your hospital stay, your child was cared for by a pediatric hospitalist who works with your primary doctor to provide the best care for your child. 

After discharge, your child's care is transferred back to your outpatient/clinic doctor, so please contact them for new concerns.

Simplified Discharge Instructions

Please visit your child’s primary care physician (PCP) if they are not eating or drinking well. 

Please come back to the emergency room if your child:

• Has trouble breathing.
• Has shortness of breath.
• Is breathing fast.
• Has blue color around mouth or lips.
• Is showing signs of dehydration.  These signs include not having a wet diaper every 4 to 6 hours and no tears when crying.

While your child was in the hospital, a doctor that only works in a hospital (hospitalist) worked with your child’s regular doctor.  Together they made sure your child had the best care.  After you leave the hospital, your child will see your regular doctor for any new concerns.

You can see the improvements that have been made by looking at the two boxes below:

Old Discharge Instructions:

New Discharge Instructions: