Improving Continuity of Care via the Discharge Summary

Discharge summaries (DCS) frequently fail to improve the continuity of care. A chart review of 188 DCS was performed to identify specific components that could be improved through health information technology. Medication reconciliations were analyzed for completeness and for medical reasoning. Documentation of pending results and follow-up details were analyzed. Patient preferences, patient goals, and the handover tone were noted. Patients were discharged on an average of 9.8 medications, only 3% of medication reconciliations were complete and medical reasoning was frequently absent. There were 358 pending results in 188 hospital discharges though only 14% were mentioned in the DCS. Documentation of clear, timely follow-up was present for less than 50% of patients. Patient preferences, patient goals, and lessons learned were rarely included. A handover tone was in only 17% of the DCS. Evaluating the DCS as a clinical handover is novel but information for safe handovers is frequently missing.