Next Step in Care

Next Step in Care is an initiative created by the United Hospital Fund designed to transform health care practices by emphasizing the crucial role of family caregivers during transitions in care. This program aims to ensure that the movement of patients among different health care settings—such as hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, and nursing homes—is both safe and seamless. Family caregivers, including relatives and friends, are essential to these processes but often lack adequate training and support.

Next Step in Care offers a range of practical resources, including guides and checklists tailored for both family caregivers and health care providers, which help to prepare and equip them for the challenges ahead. The program not only enhances the quality and safety of care but also seeks to decrease unnecessary hospital readmissions. Although it primarily focuses on New York, the methodologies and insights it provides are relevant on a national and global scale, reflecting a growing commitment to improving the caregiver experience and patient outcomes in health care.