PODS (Patient Oriented Discharge Summary)

Why Did We Create PODS?

The period of transition from hospital is a vulnerable time for patients. It is important to clearly communicate information that patients need to know when they leave hospital.

Project Contact

Shoshana Hahn-Goldberg

Thank You To Our Supporters

Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network, Council of Academic Hospitals of Ontario, Health Quality Ontario, Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement

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Behind The Solution

The Approach

This project took a participatory action approach and used an iterative design-based process to co-develop patient oriented discharge instructions. The project team engaged with over 50 patients and caregivers, including those with limited health literacy and language barriers, to ensure it met their needs, as well as with health care providers to ensure its usability and feasibility. The PODS was designed to be a set of guidelines and a tool that could be adapted to fit a variety of needs and contexts. The resource has since been adapted for use and implemented in multiple health settings.

The Design Solution

PODS is a simple tool and set of process changes that was co-designed by patients and providers in 2014. The PODS intervention provides best practice guidelines in three key areas: content, design, and process. Explore the PODS Toolkit website to learn more.

In 2015, PODS was piloted in 8 Toronto-area hospital departments spanning adult, pediatric, rehabilitation, acute, and surgery. Results showed that patient satisfaction scores related to discharge experience increased between 9.3% and 19.4% after PODS implementation.

Between 2017 and 2019, PODS was implemented in 21 hospitals across Ontario, through the support of Health Quality Ontario and the Council of Academic Hospitals of Ontario’s Adopting Research to Improve Care (ARTIC) program. Results showed that PODS was easily adapted to multiple settings and led to improvements in patient-centred discharge processes. PODS has also been shown to improve nationally collected patient experience measures related to discharge planning.

PODS is included as part of a transition bundle that is promoted and supported through national collaboratives at Healthcare Excellence Canada’s Bridge to Home program.

of patients and families reported that PODS added value to their discharge experience.

“We benefited greatly from having a platform for collaboration and learning from other sites during the implementation phase … Being part of the group allowed us to secure strong leadership support and dedicate resources to patient and family engagement."

— Project Lead

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