Improving patient discharge summary communication

Transitions from one care setting to another represent a high risk point for patient management error. Patient discharge summaries are crucial to ensure safe and effective handover for postoperative surgical instructions and plans. Currently, a postal discharge summary service exists for the majority of Irish hospital discharge communication. However, accurate and timely provision of discharge summaries has the potential to optimise patient care, reduce post-operative complications and error, and improve patient follow-up.