Discharge Summary, Prescription Forms Designed for Elderly Patients

Researchers have developed comprehensive hospital discharge summary and discharge prescription forms that prompt recording of information specific to the care of elderly patients, states an article published September 23, 2010, in BMC Geriatrics (Kergoat et al.). According to the article, such information (e.g., mental status, caregiver information) is typically missing from generic discharge materials.

The adapted discharge summary form (D-SAFE) can improve the quality of information communicated from hospitals to community caregivers, especially for patients who are most vulnerable, such as elderly patients with complex clinical needs, the article states. Physicians and pharmacists specializing in geriatric care were consulted...