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SandwichGenerationHQ
The First 72 Hours
A one-page triage checklist for the week after a hospital call
Issued
Nov 2, 2026
You just became the person responsible. Nobody trained you. This page is the training for week one. Work top to bottom; do the calls first.
The 3 calls to make in the first 24 hours
- 01The discharge planner. Ask the hospital switchboard. Say: "I'm the adult child handling [parent's name]'s discharge. What's the plan, what's the timeline, and what do we need to be ready for?" Get their direct number.
- 02The primary care doctor. Book the follow-up now — not after discharge. Say: "My [parent] was admitted to [hospital]. I need a post-discharge appointment within 7 days and a medication review."
- 03The insurance company. Number on the card. Ask: "Is this admission covered and what's our share?" and "What does the policy cover after discharge — home health, rehab, equipment?"
The 5 documents to locate immediately
Find them, put them in one folder, carry that folder to every meeting.
- Power of attorney (healthcare + financial, if they exist)
- Insurance cards (Medicare / Advantage / supplemental — front and back)
- Current medication list (or photograph of every bottle)
- DNR / POLST, if one exists
- Primary care doctor's name and contact
The one question to ask before discharge
"What happens if we're not ready?"
Not "when can they leave." The answer tells you what the hospital is legally required to arrange, what they'll try to skip, and your real timeline. Write it down.
What's next
Once the folder exists and the calls are made, the next problem is everything else: medications, providers, insurance, accounts, legal documents — an entire life, unorganized, now yours to run.
Keep this within reach. The first week sets the tone for everything after.
Next — The System
The Care Command Binder
The Care Command Binder is that system: fillable sheets for every medication, provider, policy, account, and document, plus a one-page emergency sheet that answers any question in under a minute.
- Medication & provider tracker
- Insurance policy inventory
- Account & bill-pay log
- Legal document index
A downloadable, printable system you own outright. No subscription.
Get the Binder — $29Secure checkout. Instant access.