Type of publication:
Conference abstract
Author(s):
*Lo N.
Citation:
European Journal of Case Reports in Internal Medicine. Conference: 19th European Congress in Internal Medicine Internal Medicine, ECIM 2021. Virtual. 8(Supplement 1) (pp 108), 2021. Date of Publication: 2021.
Abstract:
Background and Aims: Initial review of 50 discharge summaries at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in April 2020 revealed only 27% included the patient's COVID-19 test result and 2% outlined any recommended self-isolation advice. This had potential adverse implications for infection control as well as medicolegal sequalae for the Trust if exposed patients were discharged without self-isolation advice and subsequently spread COVID-19 in the community. The medical team worked with hospital IT to amend the existing discharge summary software, such that two tabs were added to make COVID-19 test result and self isolation documentation mandatory prior to sign off, in an early pilot version. We aimed to evaluate the impact of this software modification on COVID-19 discharge summary documentation. Method(s): Following the implementation of the modified software, 50 consecutive discharge summaries were retrospectively reviewed for: Documentation of COVID-19 result. Documentation of self-isolation advice for patient. Result(s): Following the software amendment, 91% of discharge summaries included COVID-19 test result (up from 27%) and 100% included documented self-isolation advice for the patient (up from 2%). Conclusion(s): Simple modification of the existing IT system greatly improved compliance with COVID-19 test result and self-isolation advice documentation on discharge summaries. A further software update since the study has added a tab awaiting results, to cater for patients discharged prior to COVID-19 test result becoming available. We propose all hospitals consider adopting similar measures in the interest of infection prevention, public safety and potential medico-legal sequalae.
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