EngagedPatients.org provides checklists and practical guidance for patients and families navigating hospitalization or surgery.
The Empowered Patient Coalition, a nonprofit organization, publishes the website. Much of the content is by Julia Hallisy, a dentist and author of The Empowered Patient. The home page states that the website provides tools to enable patients and their loved ones to be “fully informed and participating members of their healthcare teams.”
Resources include the Hospital Guide for Patients and Families and the following lists and checklists:
Surgery
> Meaningful informed consent
> Safety in outpatient (ambulatory) surgery centers
> Surgical patient checklist
> Questions to ask a surgeon after a procedure
> Safe post-operative pain management
> Home care after surgery
Hospitalization
> Who do you call? Getting help in a hospital
> Working with the hospital staff
> Inpatient communication form
> Important questions for your hospital care team
> Warning signs of a rapidly declining patient
Patient Safety
> Keep your hospital room safe and clean
> Ventilator-assisted pneumonia
> Signs of sepsis (severe bloodstream infection)
> Recognize and prevent surgical site infections
> Prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections
> Recognize and prevent blood clots
> Prevent pressure ulcers (bed sores)
Discharge
> Preparing for discharge
> Transfer to skilled nursing facilities (SNF)
Reviewed October 2025