The importance of follow-up appointments

Emotional health requires attention to relationships, behavior change and self-care. Continued follow-up care offers you and your child the opportunity to build a relationship with a health care professional who enables you to work with your child on making long-term and lasting changes, going beyond the change that may have started in the hospital. It can lower the risk of a return visit to the hospital, and it offers a greater chance of overall success for your child.

But being discharged also makes some caregivers and family members feel nervous. That is often because they feel as though they don’t have enough information about how to manage their child’s diagnosis. They may feel uncertain about next steps and proper care.

One way to feel prepared is to ask questions. Here are three things to ask your child’s medical team about how to manage follow-up care.

What is the diagnosis?

This sounds like a basic question, especially if your child’s hospital stay has lasted days or weeks. But understanding why the hospital stay was necessary in the first place is important. This is also true for the caregivers of a patient, especially if the patient is a child. Many parents feel as if they’re “in a fog” during their child’s stay in the hospital. The emotional strain of having an ill child, coupled with a sense of information overload, might interfere with your ability to clearly understand your child’s condition.

Be sure you have a clear and full understanding of your child’s official diagnosis.

Are medications needed? If so, what medications need to be taken and when?

After discharge, many patients will need to follow a strict medication regimen. Sometimes, though, once at home, it can be hard to understand which medications your child needs to take, when they need to take them (what times of day, how many hours apart, etc.), and how they need to take them (with food, with a full glass of water, etc.). It’s important for this conversation to happen before the time of discharge. And if new questions come up, reach out to the doctor for explanations so your child’s medication plan stays on track.

Understand your medication at the time of discharge. A lack of knowledge about medications after discharge can lead to problems for your child. Proper medication management helps your child avoid setbacks, health complications, and readmission. Not having the right list of medicines when leaving the hospital is a major cause of complications after being released.

Part of the medication conversation should include questions about any medicines that were prescribed before your child’s most recent hospital stay. All the below points should be part of your conversation with the doctor:

• Understanding what new medicines are being introduced
• Understanding the directions for each medication, including time of day your child should receive it and whether it should be taken with food
• Understanding if any medications your child has been taking should be removed from your routine.
• Understanding whether the doses of any of the medicines have changed

As a caregiver, it’s important that you get answers to all these questions. Make sure the doctors and nurses answer them before you walk out the door. Once you’re home, tracking down answers can get a lot harder.

Get the information you need for your child. Ask the hospital staff to write down instructions or take notes yourself. The day of discharge can feel hectic, so it may be even better to ask a friend or family member to take notes for you.

Communication is key. Remember to talk to your local pharmacist when filling your child’s prescriptions. Talk with your child’s doctor and nurses during their follow-up visit as well. They’re part of your child’s care team and can answer any questions either of you have.

When is my follow-up appointment?

The hospital will schedule your child’s follow-up appointment with your health care provider. It’s important to understand the plan and discuss any barriers to ensuring your child attends their follow-up appointment.

Stay on track with your child’s appointment schedule after discharge. For caregivers whose children have been treated for substance use disorder, timely follow-up appointments have been critical in reducing negative health outcomes.

While you’re waiting for your child’s follow-up appointment, it’s important to maintain treatment. Continue your child’s medication plan as prescribed to help them stay healthy. If your child experiences any barriers or feels like their symptoms are getting worse, contact their doctor or health care provider right away.