title: Communication of discharge information for elderly patients in hospital.
abstract: The delivery of the discharge note to the general practitioners following discharge of elderly patients from a geriatric medical unit was studied over a two-month period. Handwritten discharge notes were received by the general practitioners in 75% of cases, and the delay was reduced to a median of two days by the use of a pre-printed envelope. Postal communications were also received by 89% of general practitioners after a median delay in two days. A dual system of hand-delivery and postal delivery would ensure faster and more complete receipt of information.
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Medical Unit, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Curran
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Gilmore
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Beringer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D015709:Correspondence as Topic; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010821:Physicians, Family