eDischarge summary standard - a video guide
A video guide looking at the importance of the eDischarge summary, how to complete a summary and feedback from junior doctors.
INTRODUCTION
There was an urgent need to improve patient safety and continuity of care by developing standardised e-discharge summaries. The eDischarge Summary Standard enables hospitals to safely transfer standardised clinical information using PRSB headings and coded data which can be extracted directly into GP IT systems.
HOW TO COMPLETE THE DISCHARGE SUMMARY
In this short training film, Tim Yates from the Royal Free Hospital guides us through the process of completing the hospital discharge summary form. Some of the key topics covered are listed below.
A mandatory field in the eDischarge summary must be completed. A required field should be recorded if you have the information available and is important to complete for the safety and care of the patient. It is your decision to complete information that is optional. An example of this is if you have requested an investigation or procedure.
Patient demographic information is an example of mandatory information that must be completed such as a patient’s name, date of birth and NHS number. You may also be asked to add some information that gives context such as the patient’s primary language and if they might need an intepreter.
It is important to make sure that all essential information is included so that it can be shared during discharge. There may be additional information about diagnoses that may not have been recorded on admission but is very important to share for the patient’s ongoing care after discharge. You must also make sure that any relevant co-morbidities are also up to date and recorded.
GP INDUCTION FILMS
GPs tell us that the discharge summary is often the only record they obtain of a patient’s hospital stay and a well-written discharge summary is invaluable. But in busy hospitals its importance is often overlooked.
Working in collaboration with GPs from the Lea Vale Medical Group, Bute House Medical Centre in Luton, Bedfordshire and Luton & Dunstable University Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, we produced a series of videos that help to demonstrate why digitally shared information is so beneficial to patients and professionals.
“We are seeing the benefits of digital information sharing through discharge summaries, and I am keen for all trust professionals to recognise their importance”
Amran Qurban, Head of GP Client Services, Luton & Dunstable University Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust.
