[The patient's signature of the physician's report at discharge from rehabilitation].
What follows for the outcome of rehabilitation, patients' satisfaction and work organisation in a rehabilitation hospital if the patients obtain their discharge reports for signature before they leave? This has been investigated in a pilot study at the University Rehabilitation Hospital in Bad Wurzach, Germany. The pilot study was so successful that the hospital continued to use the new procedure. Only very few refused their signature, most patients were happy to obtain their discharge reports immediately and to have the opportunity to discuss the report with their physician if desired. Physician judged patients' participation slightly more pointly while the known discrepancies between physicians' and patients' point of view remained, i. e. the physician doesn't "touch up" knowing the patient will read his report. Integrating the patient in the process is a major step towards patients' empowerment. Both the influence on patients' satisfaction and changes in work organisation are discussed in the paper. A timely discharge examination and an optimised computer-supported workflow, transformation of loosely coupled activities in a process managed by time frames are preconditions for being able to have the discharge report ready before the patients leave. Monitoring the timely delivery then becomes obsolete.
Forschungsinstitut für Rehabilitationsmedizin an der Universität Ulm, der Rheumaklinik Bad Wurzach, Universitätsrehabilitationsklinik.
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Jacobi
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Kaluscha
D004526:Efficiency; D006801:Humans; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D033283:Patient Access to Records; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010358:Patient Participation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers