Discharge Information

Identifying Attributes

Care Settings
Care Transitions
Country
United States of America
Publishing Organisation
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): Care Transitions Project
Type of Quality Indicator
Outcome
IOM Quality Dimension
Person-Centredness
Domain
Consumer Experience

Defining Attributes

Definition

Percentage of positive responses for discharge information questions: Question 19: During this hospital stay, did doctors, nurses, or other hospital staff talk with you about whether you would have the help you needed when you left the hospital? b. Question 20: During this hospital stay, did you get information in writing about what symptoms or health problems to look out for after you left the hospital?

Numerator

The count of question responses for which Question 19 is 'Yes,' plus the count of question responses for which Question 20 is 'Yes.'

Denominator

The count of question responses for which both Questions 19 and 20 were answered, excluding individuals less than 65 years of age. This composite contained at most two questions.

Exclusions
Use of Risk Adjustment
No
Risk Adjustments
Stratifications

Collection and Reporting Attributes

Type of Data Collection
Surveys
Data Collection Methods

HCAHPS survey

Frequency of Data Collection
Frequency of Data Collection in Days
Reporting Methods
Reporting Frequency
Reporting Frequency in Days
Indicator Has Recommended Targets
No

Source and Reference Attributes

Evidence Source

Brock J, Mitchell J, Irby K, Stevens B, Archibald T, Goroski A, Lynn J; Care Transitions Project Team. Association between quality improvement for care transitions in communities and rehospitalizations among Medicare beneficiaries. JAMA. 2013 Jan 23;309(4):381-91. doi: 10.1001/jama.2012.216607. PMID: 23340640.

Link to Measurement Tools
Quality Indicator Confirmed to be Part of a Program Used to Monitor Quality and Safety of Care Among Older People at a Population-Level between 2012-2022
No
Assessed by the Australian Consortium for Aged Care Collaborators as Generally Containing Good Properties (Importance and Scientific Acceptability)
Yes
Australian Consortium for Aged Care Endorsed
No
Can the Quality Indicator be Readily Implemented at a Population Level in Australia Given its Current Data Landscape?
No. Data does not currently exist or not routinely collected.
Identified by PHARMA-Care Project
No
Upload Date
31 March 2026