Description
When someone you love is suddenly hospitalized, you need a way to keep track of what matters.
You don’t have to understand medicine to become a better-informed advocate for someone you love.
A medical emergency can bring unfamiliar terms, urgent decisions, changing test results, hospital transfers, new medicines, and confusing discharge instructions. Created following firsthand experience helping someone through five days in intensive care, this free resource gives family members, friends, and other trusted supporters a practical way to organize information, ask informed questions, and prepare for next steps—without pretending to be medical professionals.
Download the free crisis companion (ZIP)
What is inside this free download?
- 16-page printable guide and editable Word workbook: ER/ICU questions, a patient snapshot, lab trend tracker, care-team notes, procedures and transfers, medication reconciliation, discharge-readiness checks and a first-week follow-up plan.
- One-page hospital crisis quick card to use when time and attention are limited.
- 10 copy-and-paste AI prompts for plain-language explanations, de-identified note summaries, comparisons of written medication lists, preparing questions and respectful follow-up calls.
- Communication scripts for asking for updates, clarifying instructions, and confirming prescriptions, test orders and follow-ups have actually been completed.
Who is it for?
Anyone helping a loved one through a sudden hospitalization—partners, siblings, adult children, friends, neighbors, and unpaid caregivers.
How to use it
- Start with the one-page quick card.
- Keep the patient snapshot and daily brief handy during updates.
- Use the physician-question prompts to prepare, then confirm answers with the treating team.
- Before discharge, review medications, pending results, orders, appointments, responsible contacts, and warning signs.
Files you receive
One ZIP containing the 16-page PDF, an editable DOCX workbook, a one-page PDF quick card, and a TXT file of AI prompts.
Using AI safely
AI can help explain general terms and organize notes, but it may make mistakes. Remove names and other identifying details before entering information into a general-purpose AI service; do not upload medical records unnecessarily. Have clinicians or pharmacists verify clinical details and medication instructions. AI cannot diagnose, decide treatment, or replace the treating team.
Medical safety: This is an organizational and communication resource, not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. For an emergency, seek immediate medical help; never delay emergency treatment to use this kit or AI.
Cost: Free. No email signup, checkout, or medical information is required to download.
