250 words, discussion

Discharge Summaries

Why are Discharge Summaries so important? What types of information would you include in a thorough discharge summary? What should a discharge summary tell you about a client? Please answer these questions and respond to two other students’ posts.

Purpose of a discharge summary:

Summarize the client’s initial treatment needs
Summarize the course of treatment that met those needs
Report treatment progress
Report the client’s alcohol/drug status and further treatment needs at the termination of his/her current treatment
To identify aftercare
To provide information for continuity of care
The discharge summary:

Is written in the past tense
Developed with the client’s assistance
Disclosed only with the client’s approval
Completed in a timely manner to allow for continuity of care
Components of a discharge summary:

Initial presenting problem
Diagnostic impression (diagnosis)
Treatment problems and goals
Course of treatment
Evaluation of progress
Final assessment of needs
Substance status at discharge
Referrals for further treatment
Aftercare plans
Final prognosis

Solution Preview

Discharge Summaries

Discharge summaries are important in the provision of high quality healthcare. They are helpful to several parties including communicators, health advocates, and healthcare professionals (Simon et al, 2018). In the case of communicators, they facilitate the relationships between the doctor and the patient prior to and even after the medical encounter.

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