title: Method for improving the quality of discharge summaries written by a general medical team.
abstract: We developed a writing rubric that assessed the quality of four common errors found in the synopsis of a discharge summary: relevance, accuracy, clarity and presentation (R-A-C-P). We assessed the effect of an intervention that taught the essentials of discharge summary preparation. The intervention reduced the number of inadequate discharge summaries written by medical staff on a busy medical service. Writing the clinical synopsis of a discharge summary is a skill that can be taught quickly.
authors.affiliation: Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hewage
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D058006:General Practice / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: discharge summary; documentation; education; electronic medical record