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Discharge Summary
As you begin, state that you want the transcriptionist to use the Pediatric Discharge
Summary Template for the dictation
ADMISSION DATE:
DISCHARGE DATE:
ADMISSION DIAGNOSES: What you thought diagnosis was at admission based upon
information available at that time. Also includes reason for admission if you don’t have enough
information to make a tentative diagnosis. At that point, the reason for admission may be based
on symptoms only. Example: Fever without source.
DISCHARGE DIAGNOSES: What you have concluded is the diagnosis(es) based upon testing,
studies, etc. Example: above diagnosis becomes UTI
CONSULTS: Include dates and findings/recommendations
PROCEDURES: Include the dates/findings for any procedures and radiographic studies
HPI: If a prior H&P is dictated in HIS you may reference same and then include a brief summary
of what prompted the admission. No need to repeat family history, immunizations, etc. Assume
the referring physician did not receive the dictated H&P and needs enough information to
understand why the child was admitted. If the H&P is not in HIS, it is usually best to dictate the
entire H&P so it is in the computer record. If not done by yourself, you should indicate by whom.
For example, “H&P as taken by Dr. X.” You may include the initial assessment, but there is no
need to dictate plan as it should be incorporated into the Hospital Course.
HOSPITAL COURSE: Consider what information would be important to you as the primary, or
another physician seeing this patient in follow-up. Please do some organization prior to dictating.
Be succinct-pertinent positives and pertinent negatives. There is no need to be explicit as to
each day’s events. Neither do you have to recite all lab data, just pertinent lab data. You may
organize by systems or problem-based. Problem-based appears to eliminate duplication and is
preferable, but either format is certainly acceptable. The critical aspect is organization.
DISCHARGE DIAGNOSIS ASSESSMENT: One line summary
DISCHARGE TO: Usually home, but sometimes a facility
DISCHARGE CONDITION: Should be Good or Stable if they are going home!
DISCHARGE MEDICATIONS: Include doses, frequency and length of therapy
DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS: You must list them out, everything you checked or wrote on the
discharge form– do not say “as listed in the medical record.”
PENDING LABS: List all labs that are pending at the time of dictation. Labs may have come
back between discharge and when you dictate the summary, so provide that information if it is
available.
FOLLOW-UP: List all follow-up appointments with dates and time, name of physician or service,
and phone number for the family to contact them.
CC: Ask for a copy to be sent to the primary care provider at the end of the dictation, including
the PCP’s fax, address and/or phone number expedites the process!