[Medical correspondence]

Discharge letters are most relevant and often the only means of communication between physicians caring for the same patient. Their main function is to maintain continuous and optimal treatment for the patient concerned. The senders' and recipients' positions result in different expectations and demands towards the content of these letters. General practitioners receive on average 14 discharge letters per working day resulting in the demands to receive clearly arranged, compact, relevant and fast information. The situation is complicated by an emotional dimension on the admitting physician's side. A list of requirements is presented and means of their realisation are discussed. Computerisation has both positive and negative effects on the quality of discharge letters.