When you’re admitted to the hospital, getting through your procedure or treatment is the main focus. But getting released to go home doesn’t mean you’ve crossed the finish line. A full recovery often takes time. And trying to rush or skip certain steps could put you on the path to another hospital stay.

Readmission rates vary a lot. For congestive heart failure or acute renal failure, nearly 1 in 4 patients return for another hospital stay within 30 days. For readmissions related to sickle cell anemia or gangrene, that stat is nearly 1 in 3. Multiple hospital stays can be stressful for patients, plus it increases healthcare costs — another source of stress. And often the reasons for a return to the hospital are outside the patient’s control.

Here’s the good news: There are steps you can take in the days and weeks following a hospital stay to help prevent a return trip. Use these expert tips to help take control of your health and heal better at home. 

Understand Your Diagnosis and Care Instructions

Being in the hospital can be overwhelming. That can make it harder to absorb information, says Lynn McNicoll, MD. She’s an associate professor of medicine and the director of education for the Division of Geriatrics at Brown University. You might go home with only a fuzzy understanding of what your diagnosis means or when to follow up with your doctor.

Once you have a sense of when you’ll be discharged, invite a trusted friend or family member to join you at the hospital. That way they can be there and take notes when your provider reviews your follow-up plan and care instructions.

It’s also a good idea to ask the discharge nurse for any printed materials or resources that might help you at home. This could include patient education materials having to do with your diagnosis, procedure, and post-discharge recovery. Having those materials handy can help empower you to take charge of your recovery and steer clear of a misstep.

(If you have questions after a hospital stay, don’t wait to ask them. Log in to Wellframe, your digital health management app, to search the library for information written by medical professionals or to connect with your care team. The free app comes with your health plan; log in or download it today.)

Visit Your Primary Care Provider 

To help bring your primary care provider (PCP) up to date on your condition, make a follow-up appointment with them for one week after you leave the hospital (unless you're told otherwise). That helps create something experts call “continuity of care.” It means having a health team in place so you don’t have to go it alone after the hospital stay. 

During your visit, your PCP will likely look over your discharge summary and review your progress, says Dr. McNicoll. They will also help answer any lingering questions you might have. This visit is a great way to spot complications early, before they become bigger problems.   

Double Down on Handwashing

Infection is a common cause of hospital readmission. Do your best to keep germs at bay by washing your hands often. Ask those around you to do the same.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends washing for at least 20 seconds. Take care to also scrub the backs of your hands and between your fingers. Wash your hands before eating and after using the bathroom, of course. But also wash up before and after touching a wound, IV, or catheter. And don’t visit with anyone who feels under the weather, to avoid catching a virus.

Trust Your Gut

Ask your doctor to list any red flags you should look out for during recovery. These usually include symptoms like:

• Fever.
• Pain.
• Redness or warmth at an incision site.

But don’t feel like those are the only symptoms to pay attention to. If you feel much worse than expected, call your doctor. Same goes if you have concerns that something isn’t healing as it should.

Track Medication Changes

A hospital stay can mean big changes to your medicine routine. You might be prescribed a new medication or have your usual dose adjusted. Or you could be told to stop taking a medication entirely. It can feel confusing. “That’s where a lot of errors happen, which often leads to rehospitalization,” says Dr. McNicoll.

Get clarity by asking for a discharge summary that lists all your medications, along with why each one has been prescribed. Then follow up with your PCP or pharmacist to understand exactly what you’re taking. That can help make sure you’re not doubling up by accident or at risk of a harmful interaction.

(Need help remembering all the steps of your hospital discharge treatment plan? Use your Wellframe app to schedule reminders for appointments, medications, and more.)

Stay Active

No one expects you to run a marathon after a hospital stay. But a bit of movement can help your body heal faster, says Dr. McNicoll: “We don’t want people to lie in bed all day because they’ll get weaker.” Your doctor should tell you how much movement is okay. But also listen to your body: If you feel like you need to rest, then rest. If it feels good to stand and stretch (and your doctor has cleared you for activity), then do that.

Eat Well

A hospital stay can wreak havoc on your appetite. But your body needs nutrients, even if you’re not feeling hungry. Talk to your doctor about what your diet should look like post-discharge. Depending on your procedure, they might suggest eating more small meals throughout the day. Or they might want you to focus on fiber or hydration.

Cooking might be difficult, so talk to loved ones about helping out. And do what you can to prep ahead of time. Some nutritious make-ahead options:

• Oatmeal with fruit.
• Vegetable soup.
• Produce-packed sandwiches.

Having simple meals ready to go makes it easier to eat healthfully, without wearing yourself out.

There’s a real sense of relief that comes from getting home after a hospital stay. But remember that your recovery isn’t over just because you’ve been discharged. Put your health first in the days and weeks after a hospital stay. That can help you prevent another stay and speed your recovery.

SOURCES:

[1] “30-Day Readmission Rates to U.S. Hospitals.” Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, August 2018, https://www.ahrq.gov/data/infographics/readmission-rates.html. Accessed August 10, 2021.

[2] Reddy YNV and Borlaug BA. “Readmissions in Heart Failure: It’s More Than Just the Medicine.” Mayo Clinic Proceedings, vol. 94, no. 10, October 19, 2019, pp: 1919-1921.

[3] White B, Carney PA, Flynn J, et al. “Reducing hospital readmissions through primary care practice transformation.” The Journal of Family Practice, vol. 62, no. 2, 2014, pp: 67-74.

[4] “Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, May 14, 2021, https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/index.html. Accessed August 10, 2021.