| Sumario: | Significance & Background: Effective discharge teaching is critical for patients undergoing cellular therapies such as allogeneic or autologous stem cell transplants, Immune Effector Cell (IEC), or Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) therapy. Early recognition of side effects and timely intervention for potential severe post-treatment toxicities is vital to patient outcomes. Previously, the unit relied on outdated educational materials for transplant patients and lacked program-specific guidance for IEC recipients, relying solely on pharmaceutical literature. Recognizing the evolution of cellular therapies and the need for updated, comprehensive discharge education, the unit partnered with the cellular therapy nurse navigator to revise and expand patient materials. Purpose: This quality improvement project aimed to enhance patient education for individuals receiving cellular therapies by updating existing discharge materials, developing new evidence-based resources and integrating nurse navigation to ensure continuity of care across inpatient and outpatient settings. Interventions: A multidisciplinary team reviewed existing discharge documents and identified gaps in clarity, consistency, and content. Identified barriers included discharge instructions for IEC patients were different for each provider, symptoms to report slightly varied by IEC product, and discharge instructions should be specific based on the type of transplant received. The team conducted a comprehensive review of post-therapy complications, guiding the development of updated materials. Key enhancements included expanded content on nutrition, pet safety, intimacy post-trans-plant, immunizations, Graft Versus Host Disease examples, and immunosuppressive bloodwork monitoring. Inclusion of safe over-the-counter medications and FDA-guided IEC restrictions. Translation of all materials into English and Spanish. Medical director review and approval of all documents. Discharge materials were distributed to Allogeneic transplant on Day +14, Autologous transplant on Day +10, and IEC therapy on Day +10. The nurse navigator reinforced education, addressed patient-specific concerns, assessed discharge readiness, and ensured a smooth transition to outpatient care. Results: The updated discharge materials standardized the education process, ensuring consistent, current information across the nursing team. Early distribution allowed patients time to process information and raise questions. The nurse navigator's involvement enhanced patient understanding and preparedness, contributing to a safer and more confident discharge experience. Discussion: This project improved the discharge process by delivering concise, visually appealing, and patient-friendly materials. The integration of the nurse navigator ensured continuity of care, reduced patient anxiety, and increased readiness for discharge. This model supports a more informed and empowered patient population navigating complex cellular therapies.
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