Writing a Hospital Discharge Report

By law in most countries, on leaving the hospital, patients must be handed a hospital discharge report. This document is often considered a surgeon's bane, since it often consists of tedious paperwork that breaks the “excitement” of “real surgery.” For this reason, it is often done badly.

There are several reasons why the importance of a well-written discharge report must not be underestimated:

• 1. It will be your letter of presentation to other doctors.

• 2. The long-term evolution of your patients after the operation often depends on their following the recommendations you give them at discharge.

• 3. It will help you or your colleagues to treat the patient in the future (especially in the case of reoperations).

• 4. Last but not least, it has very important legal consequences.