BACKGROUND: With increasingly complex pediatric inpatients, efficient and effective hospital discharge requires optimal interdisciplinary care coordination and communication. We describe the development of a discharge readiness report (DRR) for the electronic health record (EHR), an integrated summary of discharge-related information organized into a highly visible and easily accessible report.

A discharge planning template for the electronic medical record can standardize the flow of discharge-related information between disciplines and may help expedite transitional care planning for hospitalized children, especially those with multiple consultants involved in their care. Given the inherent barriers to arranging outpatient services over the weekend, additional strategies may be necessary to enhance transitional care planning for patients going home over the weekend.