Interim discharge summaries: how are they best delivered to general practitioners?

DavidA. Sandler · J.R.A. Mitchell

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Healthcare Systems and Technology Health Services Management and Policy Hospital Admissions and Outcomes

Abstract

All patients discharged from a medical ward during four months were randomly assigned to one of two groups. In one group the patients were given their interim discharge summary for delivery to their general practitioner by hand; in the other group the summary was posted by the hospital. Of the 289 summaries sent by either method, 279 (97%) arrived at the general practitioner's surgery. A mean (median) time of two (one) days elapsed before arrival when summaries were delivered by hand and a mean (median) of four and a half (four) days when they were posted; at least 55% of summaries delivered by hand arrived within one day of the day of discharge compared with 8% of those posted. If all interim discharge summaries were given to patients to deliver communication between hospitals and general practitioners would be accelerated and considerable savings might be made.

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1996What information do general practitioners want about accident and emergency patients?2007From emergency department to general practitioner: Evaluating emergency department communication and service to general practitioners 1999Communication between hospitals and isolated Aboriginal Community Health Clinics

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