Rebecca MacKay with her daughter, photo submitted
In the high-stress environment of an emergency department, it's easy for patients and families to feel overwhelmed and unsure about what just happened, let alone what comes next. A research team at IWK Health is changing that with an innovative new tool: ED-PATCH (Emergency Department Patient Activated Transition to Care at Home).
What Is ED-PATCH?
ED-PATCH is a digital tool developed by a national team of Emergency Department physicians, nurses, patient partners, and researchers to help patients and caregivers take an active role in documenting their visit. Using a smartphone or tablet, patients can track key details about their emergency care experience in real time. This includes taking notes about their symptoms, tests and procedures, diagnoses, medications, and follow-up instructions.
Once completed, a healthcare provider reviews and confirms the summary created by the patient or caregiver before it is finalized and then emailed to the patient or caregiver. The result is a clear, accessible record of the visit that can be referred to later at home, with a family doctor or nurse practitioner, or during future healthcare encounters.
“Tools and strategies to support discharge communication in emergency practice settings have typically been developed by individuals who are not directly involved in delivering frontline care to patients, families, and caregivers,” says Dr. Janet Curran, ED-PATCH Principal Investigator, Quality and Patient Safety Research Chair, Professor, School of Nursing, Dalhousie University. “And rarely if ever, have patients or caregivers been involved in developing such tools. ED-PATCH was co-developed in partnership with patients, caregivers and frontline ED providers and is grounded in a strong body of evidence.”
Why It Matters
Research has shown that stress, anxiety, and the fast pace of emergency care can make it difficult for patients and families to remember what was discussed or what actions they need to take once they leave the hospital. ED-PATCH aims to bridge that gap by improving memory retention, reducing repeat emergency visits, and helping families feel more confident managing care at home.
By involving patients in creating their own discharge summary, ED-PATCH also supports health literacy and empowerment. These are core goals of patient-, and family-centered care.
“As a parent I know that being in the emergency department with a sick child can be stressful,” says Rebecca MacKay, Parent Partner, ED-PATCH Study Team. “I worked at IWK Health in various administrative roles from 2000 to 2009 and the opportunity to improve discharge communication in the Emergency Department seemed like an excellent way to continue working at the IWK, but this time from a parent lens.”
Studied with Purpose
Currently being evaluated in a pan-Canadian clinical trial, ED-PATCH is part of a broader effort by IWK Health to improve emergency care outcomes. The trial is exploring whether the tool can reduce unnecessary return visits to the emergency department, improve patient and caregiver understanding and retention of important information and overall satisfaction with care. Early indicators suggest that patients and caregivers appreciate the sense of clarity and control it provides.
Innovation for a Unique Healthcare Setting
As the Maritimes’ only Level 1 pediatric trauma centre, IWK Health sees a high volume of complex emergency visits every year. ED-PATCH is part of its commitment to continuous improvement, innovation, and excellence in pediatric and family care. It reflects a shift toward smarter, more inclusive communication and a belief that informed patients are healthier, safer, and more confident in their care journey.
“Providing clear communication to families and patients about what to expect when they leave the emergency department is a huge part of what we do,” says Dr. Emma Burns, Chief, IWK Emergency Department. “It is essential that families have a way to reconnect with the information they were provided after getting home from such a stressful event. The process of them actively engaging in information gathering and recording, using their own words, will greatly enhance healthcare providers' ability to check comprehension and provide high quality and collaborative care.”
The Future of Emergency Care
ED-PATCH isn't just a technological innovation; it's a human one. By making emergency care clearer and more accessible, it transforms the discharge experience from a confusing exit into a supported transition. And that’s exactly the kind of care families deserve.