Discharge transitions in addiction medicine and psychiatry are crucial steps—but they’re often associated with a high risk of disorganization, discontinuity in care and relapse. The guide was created in response to one of the recommendations of the 2023–2024 drug addiction psychiatric program evaluation report, which emphasizes the importance of strengthening patient collaboration, communication and active participation in discharge planning. The guide has two components: a self-assessment of patient priorities, and a directory of complementary tools to help them prepare for discharge.
Creating and rolling out the guide was a multi-step process. In summer 2024, a preliminary version was presented to the managers, coordinators, care advisors and clinicians of the drug addition psychiatric program and drug addiction treatment inpatient and outpatient units. The content was then tested with hospital patients over a three-month period, then submitted to clinical reviewers and a consultant from the CHUM literacy centre to simplify the text for a more general audience. In January 2025, the CHUM’s communications team worked on the document layout, then shared the guide with other stakeholders (such as integrated university health and social services centres in the Laurentides region).
Today, the guide is an essential part of the inpatient care trajectory. An English version was created in summer 2025 in response to strong demand from caregivers for English-speaking hospital patients. Given the positive impact of this transition tool, we’d like to make it available to all CHUM healthcare units.
Our guides are available on our website under Outils et applications (in French only):
https://www.chumontreal.qc.ca/repertoire/service-psychiatrie-toxicomanies/ressources
Lead:
Monique Sauvé, Occupational Therapist
Contributors:
Kim Brochu, Assistant Head Nurse
Monique Sauvé, Occupational Therapist
Céline Carrier, Graphic Designer
Sofiane Chougar, Acting Head Nurse
Daphnée Hamelin, Nursing Advisor
Dr. Didier Jutras-Aswad, Psychiatrist
Dr. Simon Dubreucq, Psychiatrist
Sandra Mattenet, Nurse Clinician
Nadia Haimeur, Nurse Technician
Raja Chakir, Nurse Clinician
