Alberta now has its first provincial guideline on how patients can best transition from their communities, to hospitals and then back home again. This process is called ‘Home to Hospital to Home Transitions’ and this guideline is for healthcare workers in acute, primary and community care settings to help ensure Albertans have the support they need to keep them healthy in their communities.

The guideline is for adult transitions from a patient’s community, to hospital and then back home again. Transitions for other services and demographics may be added to the guideline in the future.

Engagement period has ended: What's next?

During the engagement period, from Sept. 2019 - Jan. 2020, more than 200 people completed a survey, asked a question and/or provided input to help determine how the guideline should best be implemented in Alberta. Thank you to all who provided feedback!

The guideline, which is being facilitated by the Primary Health Care Integration Network, is finalized and is available at ahs.ca/hhhguideline.

Background

Why are provincial guidelines needed?

Evidence shows that we can help reduce readmissions, length of hospital stays and emergency department encounters with transitions initiatives that coordinate across different points on a patient’s journey.

The new provincial Home to Hospital to Home Transitions Guideline will help guide patients and healthcare workers through this journey — from checking if patients have a family doctor when they come to a hospital and are admitted, through referral and access to community supports when they are discharged.

What can a standard approach to these transitions do?

A standard approach to transitions will:

• Create a common understanding of processes from everyone involved in a transition
• Improve patient outcomes, experience and satisfaction
• Improve provider satisfaction
• Enable a collaborative team approach to provide patient-centered care