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Whether you were hospitalized due to illness or injury, often the treatment continues long after leaving the hospital. A discharge letter provides the treating physician in the community with crucial insights into the hospitalization process to ensure the continuation of medical care, including important guidelines and recommendations for the completion of treatment.
A hospital discharge letter comprises several sections that detail the reason for hospitalization and the course of treatment. Within the discharge letter, you can find descriptions of medical treatment, rehabilitation therapy, and any additional treatments, if provided (e.g., by a dietitian, speech therapist, etc.).
Additionally, the discharge letter includes various recommendations tailored to the patient's condition. These recommendations may involve post-discharge tests, medication adjustments, and more.
Establishing contact with healthcare services after discharge
After being discharged from the hospital, it's crucial to bring the discharge letter to your family doctor or primary care physician for a follow-up appointment, preferably as soon as possible. Family doctors and primary care physicians play a central role in managing the medical condition of each patient and, therefore, need to stay updated on any changes in their patients' health.
Moreover, in many cases, there is a need for continued treatment after discharge, often overseen by the family doctor. To facilitate this, the family doctor requires access to the various details contained in the discharge letter.
The hospital discharge letter serves several critical purposes, with the primary ones being the continuation of medical care, patient updates, and various official requirements.
The Importance of the Hospital Discharge Letter from a Medical Perspective
In most cases, patients are discharged from the hospital when their condition has improved enough to continue treatment in the community (outpatient care). This means that patients are often released from the hospital when there has been some improvement in their condition, but not necessarily a full recovery. Therefore, the discharge letter serves as a vital tool for transferring essential information between the hospital and the community.
Today, it is understood that patients play a central role in their treatment. Patients must understand their medical diagnoses, the treatments provided, the goals of tests conducted, and more. For example, one significant aspect of patient involvement in treatment is the strong link between the development of various diseases and lifestyle habits under the patient's control, such as smoking, physical activity, and balanced nutrition.
Therefore, it is important to read the discharge letter, particularly the recommendations outlined at the end of it. If any aspects are unclear to you, especially those written in "medical language," you should seek clarification at the clinic, either from the nurses or the treating physician. Familiarity with your medical condition allows you to take better care of your health, providing you with a sense of security.
In addition to the medical aspects, there are times when you may need to present the discharge letter to different organizations, such as the National Insurance Institute, to claim your rights. It is advisable to keep the discharge letter in an accessible place, as you may be required to present it for future purposes.
The recommendations section of the discharge letter may include crucial instructions for continued care, such as specific post-discharge tests (not performed during hospitalization) or appointments at outpatient clinics. In some cases, you may need to schedule appointments with these facilities, so it's essential to have the necessary phone numbers available. Additionally, you may require an authorization form (Form 17), which can be obtained by contacting the clinic.
Often, changes are made to medication regimens during hospitalization, such as adding new medications, discontinuing specific treatments, adjusting dosages, and more. The family physician needs to be updated on the prescribed medications accordingly. It is recommended to organize your medications at home to avoid confusion, especially in cases where multiple medications are prescribed.
The instructions provided in the discharge letter are designed to support the healing process by ensuring the safe implementation of treatment. This is particularly crucial in cases of injuries and surgeries when bandages, stitches, and other measures are involved. The discharge letter will specify when to change bandages, how to manage open wounds if relevant, the timing of suture removal, and various hygiene instructions to prevent infections.
As mentioned, in most cases, hospital discharge does not signify complete recovery but rather an improvement in the patient's condition. Therefore, it's natural to experience some difficulties after returning home, such as fatigue, weakness, occasional pain, and more. It's essential to remember that the body requires time to recover fully. Resting when necessary and gradually resuming activities while considering your abilities will help you strengthen and recover.
Many patients, particularly in the elderly population, may experience challenges in terms of independence and functioning after hospitalization. These challenges may manifest as difficulty in mobility (walking, climbing stairs, getting out of bed independently), maintaining personal hygiene (showering, toothbrushing), and more.
Addressing these challenges early on increases the chances of functional improvement. There are rehabilitation services available either within the hospital or in the community that aim to restore the patient to their maximum functional capacity, considering their medical condition. Eligibility for rehabilitation is determined based on recommendations from specialists in rehabilitation or geriatrics.
It's important to remember that in cases of worsening medical conditions, it is essential to seek medical attention from the treating physician, and in urgent situations, to go to the emergency room, with a preference for the hospital from which you were discharged.
