Consumers & Family Caregivers

The last concern most individuals have when they or their loved ones are dealing with a health situation is ensuring effective communication between their doctors, nurses, social workers and other health care providers. However, it is poor communication between well-intentioned professionals and an expectation that patients themselves will remember and relate critical information that can lead to dangerous and even life-threatening situations.

NTOCC believes that patients are at the center of care and can play an active role in improving communications and use tools to ensure effective transitions. We have brought together industry leaders who have created resources to help you better understand transitional challenges and empower you as part of the care giving team.

Available Tools & Resources

NTOCC has developed information to help patients and their caregivers better understand issues associated with transitioning from one health care setting to another and tools to help consumers as they navigate transitions.

Be sure to join NTOCC as a subscriber to be notified as new tools are made available.

Patient Bill of Rights During Transitions of Care

Transitions of care (or care transitions) take place each time you go from one health care provider or health care setting to another. Problems often happen during these transitions because information is not communicated. You and your family have the right to care transitions that are safe and well coordinated. This guide can help you get the information and services you need and deserve each step of the way.

My Medicine List

This form helps you gather important information about your medications. Filling this list out prior to visiting your doctor or entering the hospital will help ensure your health care providers know what medications you are already taking. When your doctor writes you a new prescription or changes your medication ask them to update your My Medicine List. Working with your doctors to fill out the form will help you better understand what medications you should be taking.

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Informational Slide Deck

View this presentation to learn more about how transitions of care impact your safety and how NTOCC is working to ensure improved transitions for you and your family.

Informational Brochure

This brochure contains easy to understand information about transitions of care that can help you in sharing and discussing this critical health care issue.

Guidelines for a Hospital Stay

Whether you were admitted to the hospital because of an illness or injury, or have planned a hospital stay for surgery or testing, being in any hospital can be an overwhelming experience for you and your family. But no matter your level of anxiety or concern, there are a number of things you can do to participate in your care and to help achieve the health care outcomes you desire. This brochure helps guide the patient, family, & caregiver on how to have safe and successful health care at the hospital.

Taking Care of My Health Care

Taking Care of MY Health Care has been a much anticipated consumer tool. The tool was developed by the NTOCC Tools and Resources Work Group. It has been through numerous reviews with the group, by social workers, and a literacy review. The NTOCC Advisory Task Force approved it on September 16, 2008 at their meeting in Washington DC. This tool was developed as a guide for patients and their caregivers to use so they can be better prepared when they see a health care professional on what kind of information and questions they need to ask. NTOCC’s goal was to keep it simple; as a guide, to open the lines of communication and at the minimum to provide them with a convenient, simple format to have an updated list of their medication and what the next step in their care would be.

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Transitions Toolkit from CAPS

Hospital discharge is a time during which patients and families are at their most vulnerable. There is so much information they need to know, just when they may be least able to absorb, remember and act on it.

It is vital for members of the healthcare team to help patients leave the hospital with confidence, giving them the tools and information they need to make a smooth transition to their next destination. This toolkit, Taking Charge of your Healthcare: Your Path to Being an Empowered Patient, provides you with these tools.