Going home from the hospital

Going home with new equipment is a big step. Most hospitals have a discharge team for it. These are the things families say matter most:

1. Training for two. At least two people at home learn every device and every routine, and practice them, ideally including a night of rooming-in at the hospital.
2. Equipment and supplies delivered and working before the first night: the main device, a backup where one is needed, and a few days of supplies.
3. Nursing hours approved and staffed. Ask how many hours were approved, which agency will staff them, and what happens if a shift is not covered.
4. Home ready: enough outlets, a plan for power outages, room for equipment, and a working phone.
5. Appointments made: the first follow-up visits, and who to call with questions in the first week.
6. Emergency plan: an emergency information form, and a note to your local emergency services if your county keeps a registry.
7. A written care plan: medicines, feeds, settings, and what to do when something changes.

Use the going home checklist

• Expect it to be hard. Most families say the first weeks are the hardest.
• Keep a simple log of feeds, medicines and anything that seems different.
• Track supplies from day one, so you reorder before you run out.
• If nursing shifts go unfilled, write it down every time. It helps when you ask for help.
• Going back to the hospital is common in the first months. It does not mean you did something wrong.