Audit of a Change in Otolaryngology Discharge Letters Using the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (Sign) Recommendations

Abstract

Hospital and general practitioners should establish good communications so that continuity of care can be maintained when patients are discharged from hospital. A discharge letter was routinely prepared utilizing the standardized morbidity registration forms by the house surgeon for delivery to the patient s general practitioner. The authors developed a new discharge letter, which was sent under separate cover to the general practitioner. The two discharge letters were assessed utilising data fields recommended by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN).

A total of 162 consecutive paediatric patient discharges were identified. The mean number of items present in the existing and the new discharge letters were 13.7 + 1.8 and 12.2 + 3 respectively. The new discharge letter met the SIGN guidelines more closely than the existing discharge letter.