Work

Trust‐building in pediatric hospital medicine discharge

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Hospital discharge is a trust-sensitive phase of care. This article reframes discharge as a longitudinal process in which families assess not only individual clinicians but also the reliability, coherence, and accountability of the healthcare system across hospitalization. Misalignment between verbal and written communication, unclear responsibility transfer, and unaddressed administrative workload can erode institutional trust, particularly for structurally marginalized families when signals of support are not sustained. Pediatric hospitalists can strengthen trust by aligning communication, responsibility, and support across care phases, anticipating postdischarge complexity, and signaling shared accountability. We propose a longitudinal, trust-oriented approach to discharge and outline strategies to operationalize this.

Source: Journal of Hospital Medicine

DOI: 10.1002/jhm.70356

Author: Victor Do

Institution: University of Alberta

Language: English

Topic: Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare

Subfield: General Health Professions

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,400