Using Co-Design Methods to Create a Patient-Oriented Discharge Summary

Conclusion

Patients need to be prepared for discharge so that they can engage in supported self-management once they return home. 

The PODS is one way to support this process and provides a resource that patients can repeatedly refer to once they are discharged. Care should be taken to include key information that is helpful for patients and to provide that information in a way that patients can understand and use. The PODS should incorporate important design elements for patients with low health literacy and language and visual barriers such as using plain language, large fonts, and visuals.

Corresponding author: Shoshana Hahn-Goldberg, PhD, 294 Mullen Dr., Thornhill, ON L4J 2P2.

Funding/support: The PODS project has been funded by the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network.