Discharge day is when the most expensive mistakes happen. A printable 12-point checklist.

Discharge day is exhausting. You have been in a hospital for days, you want to go home, and someone shoves a stack of paper at you. This is exactly when you sign things you should not.

The 12-point checklist

  1. Itemized bill in hand.
  2. Pharmacy receipts attached.
  3. Implant invoice (if applicable).
  4. Original discharge summary (not a photocopy).
  5. All lab and imaging reports.
  6. Follow-up appointment scheduled in writing.
  7. Medication list with generic alternatives noted.
  8. Dietary and activity restrictions documented.
  9. Insurance final settlement amount.
  10. Any pending payments clearly listed.
  11. Contact number for post-discharge queries.
  12. Patient feedback form completed (yes, it matters).
If anything on this list is missing, you have the right to wait. Discharge is not an emergency.