Project RED took about 750 patients at Boston Medical Center (BMC), an urban academic center, and split them into two groups—one that would receive care as usual, and one in which care would be defined by the new principles of Project RED. The latter group of patients had its own discharge advocate who would collect all discharge information. The advocate then entered the information in software designed to create an After Hospital Care Plan (AHCP), a spiral-bound color booklet. (Jack notes that not everyone is familiar with the term “discharge,” and it was decided to name the booklet differently for patients.)

The individualized booklet is more than a simple discharge summary and contains color-coded calendars for appointment scheduling—including, if needed, how to get to each appointment. It also lists brand-name and generic medications and other information such as what time of day to take the medication (with graphics), what the pill looks like (with pictures), dosage of each medicine, how to take the medicine, and the reason for each medication. The patient discharge advocate reviews the booklet with each patient.