A document providing a synopsis of a patient’s hospital stay, designed for continuity of care after release. It typically includes information such as admitting diagnoses, procedures performed, medications administered, and recommendations for follow-up. A portable document format (PDF) version enables easy sharing and archiving of this critical healthcare information.
These summaries are essential for facilitating effective communication between healthcare providers, ensuring that outpatient physicians and other caregivers have a clear understanding of the patient’s inpatient treatment. This assists in preventing medication errors, reducing readmission rates, and supporting ongoing care management. Historically, the development and standardization of these documents have improved patient safety and healthcare quality.
