title: Audit of a change in otolaryngology discharge letters using the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) recommendations.
abstract: Hospital and general practitioners should establish good communications so that continuity of care can be maintained when patients are discharged from hospital. A discharge letter was routinely prepared utilizing the standardized morbidity registration forms by the house surgeon for delivery to the patients general practitioner. The authors developed a new discharge letter, which was sent under separate cover to the general practitioner. The two discharge letters were assessed utilising data fields recommended by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN). A total of 162 consecutive paediatric patient discharges were identified. The mean number of items present in the existing and the new discharge letters were 13.7 + 1.8 and 12.2 + 3 respectively. The new discharge letter met the SIGN guidelines more closely than the existing discharge letter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Aberdeen Childrens Hospital, Aberdech.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Nunez
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lamont
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D010036:Otolaryngology; D010351:Patient Discharge; D012606:Scotland