| Rationale. Forty-nine percent of patients experience at least one medical error following hospital discharge. One third of these errors are associated with gaps in communication between hospital and community care providers. Electronic discharge summaries may improve the content, format, and delivery of this communication and potentially improve patient safety.;Methods. Qualitative and formal systematic review methodologies were employed.;Results. Two viable electronic discharge solutions, a set of recommendations to improve discharge communication and documentation, and synthesis of evidence regarding the efficacy of computerized interventions were developed.;Conclusions. Electronic discharge summaries can be a viable option to bridge the discharge communication gap between care providers although further study is needed.;Objectives. To understand discharge communication needs and challenges, to examine the efficacy of computer-enabled discharge communications, to develop the Web-Based Seamless Discharge Communication Tool, and to integrate this tool into Alberta Health Services Information Technology infrastructure. |
