Electronic discharge summary (EDS) systems
Electronic discharge summary (EDS) systems eliminate possible sources of error that may result when faxing paper-based discharge summaries.
National Guidelines for On-Screen Presentation of Discharge Summaries
The National Guidelines for On-Screen Presentation of Discharge Summaries specify the sequence, layout and format of the core elements of hospital discharge summaries, as displayed in clinical information systems.
The guidelines were developed through extensive research, consultation and iterative testing with more than 70 clinicians.
The guidelines are intended to be used by:
- The medical software industry
- Health services that procure and implement systems which generate and present discharge summaries.
The guidelines are based on the best evidence available at the time of development. Healthcare professionals are advised to use clinical discretion and consideration of the circumstances of the individual patient, in consultation with the patient and/or their carer or guardian when incorporating the guidelines into clinical practice, and applying information contained in the guidelines to electronic discharge summary systems.
The guidelines were first published in August 2016 and have been revised based on feedback received since that first publication. The Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council (AHMAC) endorsed the Commission’s revised guidelines in December 2017.