Medication safety planning after discharge

Best first step: Before discharge, ask which medications are new, changed, continued, or stopped — and when the next dose should be taken.

• Use your Brookhaven discharge medication list as the main reference after discharge.
• Ask which medications are new, changed, continued, or stopped before leaving.
• Do not restart old medications, double doses, skip doses, or stop medication because of a portal mismatch without checking first.
• Store medications safely, especially if there are children, pets, visitors, roommates, or safety concerns at home.
• Plan refills before medication runs out and confirm who manages refills after Brookhaven care.
• Urgent side effects, allergic reactions, overdose concerns, withdrawal concerns, or unsafe thoughts should be handled directly, not through a routine portal message.

1. Ask which medications are new.
2. Ask which medications changed dose, timing, or instructions.
3. Ask which medications should be stopped.
4. Ask when to take the next dose of each medication.
5. Confirm the pharmacy where prescriptions were sent.
6. Ask what to do if the pharmacy does not have the prescription.
7. Ask what side effects should be reported right away.
8. Ask who manages refills after discharge.

Plan area	What to confirm
Medication list	Which medications to take, stop, continue, or ask about.
Dose timing	Morning, afternoon, evening, bedtime, food instructions, or special timing.
Pharmacy access	Where prescriptions were sent and who can pick them up.
Refills	Who manages refills and when to request them.
Side effects	What to watch for and when to contact the care team, pharmacy, or urgent care.
Support	Whether a support person can help with reminders, pickup, storage, or monitoring.

• Keep medications in their original labeled containers when possible.
• Store medications away from children, pets, visitors, and shared household areas.
• Use a lockbox if the care team recommends restricted access.
• Keep only the current medications in the active medication area.
• Separate stopped, expired, or discontinued medications until you can ask how to dispose of them.
• Do not share medications with anyone else.
• Ask the pharmacy about safe disposal for medications you no longer need.

Important: If medication access is part of a safety concern, ask the Brookhaven care team whether a trusted support person should help with storage, pickup, or dose reminders after discharge.

• Use the medication name, dose, route, and timing listed on discharge instructions.
• Ask whether a medication should be taken with food, at bedtime, or at a specific time.
• Ask whether alcohol, cannabis, sedatives, or other medications should be avoided.
• Ask what to do if a dose is missed.
• Ask whether the medication should be stopped suddenly or tapered only with provider guidance.
• Ask how long the medication is expected to continue.

Concern type	What to do
Mild or expected side effects	Contact the care team, pharmacy, or follow-up prescriber if symptoms are uncomfortable, persistent, or unclear.
Severe or sudden symptoms	Seek urgent medical help rather than waiting for a portal reply.
Possible allergic reaction	Trouble breathing, swelling, severe rash, or fainting needs immediate help.
Worsening mental health symptoms	Contact the care team or urgent support if symptoms worsen, especially unsafe thoughts or behavior changes.
Medication mismatch	Contact the care team or pharmacy before changing how medication is taken.

Do not double a dose unless a pharmacist or prescriber specifically tells you to. If you are unsure what to do, contact the pharmacy, care team, or follow-up prescriber.

• Write down the medication name and dose.
• Note the time the dose was supposed to be taken.
• Note the time the medication was actually taken, if it was taken.
• Report any symptoms after a missed or extra dose.
• Ask the pharmacy or prescriber what to do next.
• Seek urgent help for overdose concern, severe symptoms, or unsafe thoughts.

• Ask how many days of medication were prescribed.
• Ask whether refills are included.
• Ask who manages refills after Brookhaven care.
• Ask when the follow-up appointment should happen.
• Request refills before medication runs out.
• Contact the pharmacy if the prescription is delayed, out of stock, or requires authorization.
• Contact the care team if refill delays could cause missed doses.

Important: A support person can help with medication safety only when the patient agrees or when legal authority applies. Medication privacy may still limit what Brookhaven can share.

• Ask whether the patient wants help with medication reminders.
• Ask whether a support person should pick up prescriptions.
• Ask whether medications should be stored in a lockbox or managed by a trusted person.
• Ask what side effects or warning signs should be watched for.
• Ask what information can be shared with the support person.
• Ask who to contact if the medication plan becomes confusing at home.

• Patient full name and date of birth.
• Discharge date or approximate stay dates.
• Medication name, dose, and instructions.
• What the discharge paperwork says.
• What the bottle, pharmacy, or portal says.
• What dose was taken and when.
• Any missed dose, extra dose, or refill issue.
• Any side effects, symptoms, or safety concerns.
• Preferred pharmacy and callback number.

Do not wait for a portal reply if the medication concern affects immediate safety, severe symptoms, allergic reaction, suspected overdose, withdrawal concern, severe confusion, missed critical medication, or thoughts of self-harm or harm to others.

• If symptoms are severe or sudden, seek urgent medical help.
• If there is trouble breathing, swelling, chest pain, fainting, severe confusion, or suspected overdose, use emergency services.
• If the patient has thoughts of self-harm, harm to others, or feels unsafe, seek immediate help.
• If the medication is missing from the pharmacy and the patient will miss an important dose, call the pharmacy and care team directly.
• If the patient is still at Brookhaven, tell the assigned nurse or nearest staff member immediately.