Project BOOST^®: A Comprehensive Program to Improve Discharge Coordination for Geriatric Patients

Hospital discharge is often a stressful and hazardous venture for patients and their caregivers, especially for older adults with complex medical needs. The unfortunately routine discontinuity and fragmentation of care associated with hospitalization generate tangible risks of harm to patients and flummox their caregivers. Project BOOST® (Better Outcomes by Optimizing Safe Transitions) comprehensively aims to enhance transitions of care, improve patient satisfaction, and augment the flow of information between hospitals and primary care and subacute providers. BOOST’s ultimate goal is to coordinate patient-centered care during a hospital discharge transition by ensuring patients and/or caregiver comprehension of instructions, improving hospital to post-acute provider communication, and reducing unnecessary emergency department (ED) visits and rehospitalizations. BOOST® focuses on facilitating interdisciplinary care of patients and utilizes a team approach to assess patients’ risk for rehospitalization linked to planning and executing risk-specific discharge efforts.