Appointment preparation

Prepare the question list before the records.

A BridgeCare advisory visit works best when the family first clarifies the decision, the confusion, and the questions they need help organizing. Records and protected information wait for the approved secure intake workflow.

Not emergency care. For urgent symptoms, rapid worsening, or a same-day clinical decision, contact 911, the treating clinician, the facility nurse/clinician, or the emergency department.

Step 1

Write the 3-5 questions that matter most

Keep the first draft broad and non-identifying. Focus on what your family needs to understand, what decision is coming, and what you want to ask the treating team.

Open question guides View sample summary

Step 2

Choose the main situation

ICU course, discharge plan, rehab/SNF transition, medication changes, goals-of-care meeting, or whole-case review.

See how it works

Step 3

Confirm the appointment logistics

Use the calendar guide for broad availability, package selection, and generic appointment information.

Open calendar guide

Step 4

Wait for secure intake

Do not send records through ordinary email. Secure upload instructions come only after fit, consent, and scope review.

Secure intake overview

Step 5

Prepare for the visit

Have the requestor present, know the main decision, and keep a notepad ready for questions to ask the treating team.

After booking steps

Boundary

Do not use this for urgent updates

Same-day changes, urgent symptoms, and emergency medication concerns belong with the treating team, facility clinician, emergency department, or 911.

Review policies

No-PHI prep template

Use this structure before the secure intake step.

This public-page template is intentionally broad. It helps BridgeCare understand the advisory question without collecting records, identifiers, facility names, medication lists, exact dates, or urgent symptoms.

Main concern:
[Discharge plan / ICU course / medication changes / rehab or SNF transition / goals-of-care meeting / whole-case review]

What we are trying to understand:
[Keep this broad and non-identifying.]

Decision or conversation coming up:
[Example: follow-up plan, rehab plan, family meeting, medication question.]

Top 3-5 questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Do not include patient names, dates of birth, medical record numbers, hospital or facility names, medication lists, exact dates, photos, records, or urgent symptoms.