The transition coach first met with the patient in the hospital
before discharge to establish initial rapport, to introduce the
personal health record, and to arrange a home visit, ideally
within 48 to 72 hours after hospital discharge. For those
patients transferred to a skilled nursing facility, the transition
coach telephoned or visited at least weekly to maintain continuity,
to facilitate preparation for discharge (with attention to
self-care), and to arrange for a home visit. The home visit
involved the transition coach, the patient, and the caregiver
(where applicable). A primary goal of the home visit was to
reconcile all of the patient’s medication regimens (eg, prehospitalization
and posthospitalization medications, over-thecounter medications, and medications prescribed to someone
else that the patient was taking) using the Medication Discrepancy
Tool.26 The transition coach and patient reviewed each
medication to ensure that the patient understood its purpose,
instructions, and potential adverse effects. When a medication
discrepancy was identified, the transition coach and the patient
made a plan for how to resolve the problem, such as having
the patient telephone the appropriate health care professional
for urgent matters or write a question on the personal health
record as a reminder to raise the concern with the health care
professional at the appropriate follow-up appointment. In
addition, the transition coach imparted skills for effectively
communicating care needs during subsequent encounters with
health care professionals. The patient and transition coach
rehearsed or role-played effective communication strategies so
that the patient would be prepared to clearly articulate his or
her needs. The transition coach also reviewed with the patient
any red flags that indicated a condition was worsening and
provided education about the initial steps to take to manage
the red flags and when to contact the appropriate health care
professional