https://psnet.ahrq.gov/primers/primer/11
The Joint Commission requires that discharge summaries be completed within 30 days of hospital discharge
“According to one review, 49% of patients had at least one post-discharge medical error (SOR B). Adverse drug events are the most common post-discharge adverse event, and about half of these are preventable or ameliorable (SOR B). These errors can be decreased with accurate medication reconciliation at all points of the transition of care. Most errors and adverse events are related to communication breakdowns between the primary care physician and the hospital team (SOR C).
Discharge summaries are not available 75% of the time when the patient has the first follow-up visit with the primary care physician after hospitalization (SOR B). The Joint Commission requires that discharge summaries be completed within 30 days of hospital discharge, and that summaries include the following:
the reason for hospitalization
significant findings
procedures performed
care, treatment, and services provided
the patient’s condition at discharge
information provided to the patient and family”
References:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jhm.228/full
http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/297/8/831.long