How GPs helped a hospital fix ‘Australia’s worst’ discharge summaries
Following feedback from GPs, junior doctors now receive discharge summary training
Two years ago Dr Elana Roseth turned up to work to find that Sydney Northern Beaches Hospital had just mailed through to her practice 650 patient discharge summaries.
This was a shock because in the months leading up to the mass mail out, receiving any discharge summary from the hospital was something of a rarity.
Dr Roseth quickly discovered most of the summaries were outdated. There were also 200 letters addressed to GPs who didn’t actually work at the practice.
She subsequently fronted a NSW parliamentary inquiry into the hospital’s operation and management triggered by reports of critical drug and equipment shortages, chronic understaffing and serious patient safety risks.
